The Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair

The Jean Genie

2012-01-26T12:03:00.000Z

If Helen's face launched a thousand ships, The Shrimp's figure launched a thousand shifts. Irrevocable, unforgetible and so super-chic it hurts, we're all of a quiver to see the Doctor's assitant Karen Gillan portray her tonight in 'We'll take Manhattan.'

Inbetween You-tubing Bailey, Twiggy, Edie & Andy [we've gone all sixties this week- get me in Betsey and call me a 'quaker!] we found this adorable clip of Shrimp from the states...

See, even her handwriting was sassy.

In the midst of all this sixties-ness, were crying out for more sixties TV. Less 'Twiggy's Frock Exchange,' more 'Shrimp my Ride?' [perhaps. Possible cover art below]

Coming to a tellybox near you....

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

R.E.Q.U.E.S.T: Find it if you can for me...

2012-01-19T10:48:00.000Z

A Rolling Stone once told me, rather profoundly through my speaker-box, that "you can't always get what you want."

NEVER wanting to question their rock n' roll omniscience, I've always left it be.

But as the years tick on, I've indulged in a regression of sorts. Just like a toddler may, say, spit and stomp over not being able to have everything at once, I find myself agreeing. Although those Stones [many years ago now] told us we often can't have it all, served-up in a jiffy on the shiniest of plates, it really takes its toll!

And with that in mind, we took action.

Here at Judy HQ, We want you to get the MOST out of our fairs that you possibly can. We understand the wonder and whimsy of each event being a mystery, a kind of 'will-they-won't-they' we don't want to take away. That said, sometimes we too cannot take the heart-break. Counteracting that, we're delighted to be offering you a brand NEW service, whereby you call the shots on what we bring.

Wedding dresses, plus sizes, missing pieces and more- the forum is now open! Name exactly what you want, the city you're hoping to visit and heck, we'll bring it along! It can even be generic - a sewing stall at Spitalfields, more menswear in the Midlands - all suggestions are welcome!

Opening the lines of communication from you to Judy HQ, just pop me an email on kieran@judysvintagefair.co.uk and we'll get back to you.

Just like the rock n' rollers say, 'you can't always get what you want.' But boy, you can bloomin' well try.

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

Pennies make pounds and pounds make PRADA...

2012-01-17T15:55:00.000Z

Versace collabs, Mccartney on our tracksuits and Ab Fab back on the tele-box- welcome to the year of the label-drop, dear shopper, where every outfit is a sartorial 'Guess Who.'

Only joking, although we are partial to a spot of designer ware, especially if the price is right.

Channeling it so, we couldn't resist showing off this shopper from an end of year event, packing more designer than Patsi's black book. Old-school beret meets bag by Lagerfeld and a bomber so iconic you'd know its maker from space.

With designer pieces always featuring at fairs, we've got our eyes peeled for stylish sixties Biba, Gucci prints and accessories and an overdose of Moschino. Our Tunbridge Wells and Norwich events could well be the place to begin [SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT] with many traders dropping names on the rails.

Until then remember - pennies make pounds, and pounds make Prada [just not as many as you'd expect!]

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

From Coral Reef to Teenage Witch: 2012 trend predictions from Judy HQ

2012-01-12T12:07:00.000Z

Hello vintage fans! It's Kieran, the Vintage Vulture writing to you for the first time in 2012. Cor, isn't this NOVEL?! You're still here, we're still here, nobody has disappeared in a Y2k-style disaster [wasn't that a funny NYE? Spending the end of '99 waving flashing beanie Millennium-Bugs whilst secretly taking inventory of your canned goods JUST in case you had to hit the bunker come midnight. Just my family? Seriously? Ok then.]

Folks, we should apologise; at a time when the web is bereft with diets, holiday plans and sunny summer clothes [We haven't been below three layers for months!] our light-hearted chat is a necessity. Taking our snouts out of the Quality Street tin just long enough to type, [seriously Santa, next year just bring me a nose-bag and a farm-hand to peel them] we thought we'd get back on the blog-horse.

Now, we were going to commence with just how ridiculously amazing our SPITALFIELDS JANUARY SALE was [I saw a woman leave with a Welch-worthy vintage wedding dress for a fiver. Madness!] but then we came across this: -

Lightbulb-headband and candy-pocket aside, it's not too far off the mark. Up-dos? Check. Zips? Check. "Skirts will disappear entirely" - judging by your average episode of TOWIE, check, check check! This got us to thinking, what trends do we think will be big in a not too distant future?

Prepare your notebooks and set phasers to STUNNING as we run through some of 2012's S/S potentially hot trends....

Sportswear-as-every-wear: Stella makes tracksuits, Ri-Ri wears short-shorts and our wardrobes crumble into 'going for gold.' Olympic fever may be here but there's no need to look like a hemorrhaging rainbow; just like Victoria B, we're turning to tailored vintage Lettermans and satin-y blouses to get the 411 on looking less 118. Adidas head-to-toe a million miles from a podium? Never going to be cool.

Do you see what I sea: Avast Versace, you constant muse. As any landlubber will have spotted, under the sea is in. Think shells and mermaids, sea-weed and reefs - easy to pick up on 50s and 60s dresses [as this sea-bird number above demonstrates] The trick? Channeling 'Ariel' and never 'Auld Gregg' [Disney via Noel Fielding] Boot of Baileys sold separately.

Melissa-Joan <3: Clarissa at one end, Sabrina at the other - Melissa Joan Hart provides the proverbial book-ends to a decade that's back in action. Noughties to nineties - who would've thought it? Sabrina-worthy velvet, rucksacks and peter-pan collars [A/W] now fade into pastels, tie-die and Clarissa-worthy print. Go easy on the dungarees and accessorize with an annoying younger sibling and presto, you've nailed the trend.

Fearne Cotton, Harry Potter, Blake Lively & Whoopi Goldberg - now there's a come-dine-with me that we'd like to see! Unifying this motley crew of fictitious wizards and nuns on the run is a penchant for the circular. Perfect for working that Lennon-look, we predict big things for sunnies which measure 360 degrees. Not sure? Draw some on! You'll be left looking hippy-chic in a jiffy [just never leave the house.]

And there we have it folks - more pouring over our crystal ball as the season ticks on!

xVVx out

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

From one turkey-coma to another...

2011-12-25T15:15:00.000Z

Dogs on bodies, boys with boobs - it's Christmas a la Mars Attacks! Wishing you all a Christmas with a vintage twist, go forth and be merry!

From one turkey-coma to another, see you soon!

xVVx

Isn't it Ironic [don't you think...]

2011-12-19T16:30:00.004Z

What happens when you give three up-and-coming London bloggers disposable cameras to capture the launch of a historic, new vintage market right in the heart of Spitalfields?

The answer: The flash doesn't work [x 3] All together now everyone...a big fat 'D'oh!'

Nevertheless, what we were left with gave a seeming two-fingers to Alanis Morisette and that whole 'irony' thing she so famously crooned about; dimly lit, the resulting snaps are rather spectral and Dickensian [imagine Oliver goes to market and you're pretty much there] and as anyone with a TV license will tell you, Dickens + ghosts = so hot right now.

Spooky [well, not really, although that last shot of the uninhabited kids pump does make me want to lock my doors..] but beautiful nonetheless. Thanks to Becky [blah blach becky] Laura [the magpie musings] and Mel [tatty little boots] for their help!

Because it wouldn't be Christmas without a shameless plug, for any of you who missed out on Spitalfields, we're back the first Saturday of EVERY month [kicking off again with our huge January sale on Jan 7th - click here for details]

Dimlitted not dimwitted,

xVVx

I bet that you look good on the dancefloor...

2011-12-05T16:50:00.001Z

'I bet that you look good on the dancefloor?' asked one man to this be-spotted Sheffield shopper. Apparently, she does. Flaunting a fifties circumference the size of the Sun, we <3 it!

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

More! More! More!

2011-12-02T13:33:00.001Z

Today is one of those days where, if my head weren't [bad grammar here - roll with it] screwed on, I feel I would be doomed to loom beheaded, like a rejected Gaga outfit, circa X Factor '11.

Road-Runner-ing [or should that be Road-Running - how does one take common cartoon nouns and turn them verbal - DEBATE!] all over the place for our Spitalfields event, I've decided to take five and deal with this back-log of blogging [back-blog - love it!] that's been on my to-do list for too long.

In semi-recent news, those of you that peruse the glam-infused pages of More! magazine may have spotted a familiar sliver of branding of late..

Rocking the Navajo-Vintage Tote look, it's only our venues manager Rebecca Lockwood, outside our Nottingham event! Papped for the 'From Bag to Body' feature [if you get the words 'bag' and 'body' the wrong way around - as I quite frequently do - the whole feature takes a much more macabre turn. Dark stuff guys, real dark.] we enjoy her fringing, blonde locks and shameless, shameless product placement [Judy's tote, £3, available at all our fairs thank-you-please]

Phew! There we have it - fame strikes again! Stay with us as we battle on with the Back-Blog over the next few days and try to get you updated with all the news from Judy HQ.

Onwards and upwards,

xVVx.

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2011-12-01T11:55:00.001Z

Pop Destiny's Child's '8 Days of Christmas' on the iPod and somebody bring me a brandy - boy howdy, are we feeling festive this Thursday!

Granted, it could be the E-numbers; [what? you don't eat your Calendar all at once, python-like, in a chocolatey race to the end?? Gaping windows, greed and an overwhelming sense of guilt is what today's all about people!] Putting sugar levels aside, our festivity feels, well, genuine!

Perhaps it's the tunes...the reminiscing over school Christmas dinners [1 x ice-scream scoop of mash, 1 x splash of murky brown gravy and turkey so shear, it could be stitched, Febreezed and shipped to Celine and be totally bang on-trend!] That said, perhaps it's the MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CHRISTMAS IMAGES we've been sent ahead of this weekend's events.

A London double-whammy, Saturday sees the launch of 'JUDY'S AT SPITALFIELDS,' a new monthly occurrence at The Old Spitalfields Market featuring around 140 traders from all over the land [and free entry every time.] Sunday, we're hopping over to Bethnal Green for 'THE VINTAGE FURNITURE FLEA.' An award-winner daahling, [true story - Vintage Guide to London, 'Best Fair' 2011] expect everything from chopping board to chaises longues, all for an affordable price. As pictures speak a thousand words, take a look for yourselves...

Vintage baubles [and Christmas tin featured above] Fleamarket Floozy

Toy soldier embellished jacket, Shopfloorwhore

Angelic tea-towel, Daisy Bazaar

Retro stocking-fillers, the cute and the kitsch [and a jacket that's more 'little drummer boiiiiiiiiiii' than 'boy'] = a wonderland or what?? For more details on Spitalfields, click here and for details on the Flea, click here.

You stay jolly vintage fans [and we'll ho-ho-hopefully see you there!]

xVVx

www.judysvintagfair.co.uk

I think i'm turning Japanese...

2011-11-17T09:25:00.001Z

Oriental goods delivered straight to your door - a concept, as you can imagine, not entirely foreign to us [why, many a night we have waited for a certain rap-rap-rapping on the glass to receive a myriad of tasty treats. The only way that moo shu could get in our mouths any quicker would be a funnel through a letterbox- an image too graphic for 10am this morning!]

And so, as we went about lives this week [indigestion in tow - note to self: CHEW!] little did we know of the glorious Japanese surprise that awaited us...

'Brilliant!' we thought. scooping it up for a lunch-time persue. A whole issue on Japanese vintage. At the fairs, we see many fashionistas from the East always impeccably-dressed and accessorized. As one of our facebook faves Japanese Streets [go on, take a look] testament with their regular street-style, old-world's alive and kicking, no matter what your timezone.

We flicked on, thumbing our way to a middle-page spread. 'Pretty!' we thought, thinking how very...London this looked...

Flicking on, we began to wonder...could we be in this? Narcissistic yes, that some big glossy fashion mag [named So-en by the by, Japan's very first fashion magazine, founded in the 30s!] would feature us. But hey, we're dreamers! Just as we thought the bubble had been burst, we came across this..

WOOHOO! Regardless of what could be quite questionable PR [we, unfortunately, don't speak a lot of Japanese. Touch wood, we're taking the text as positive, not negative] it's lovely to be featured!

Arigato So-en magazine! Here's to our next over-seas feature!

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

A weigh in the life...

2011-11-02T18:53:00.000Z

Some things are meant to be shared; good [and bad] jokes, gin, your best friend's wardrobe [despite what they say..] and THIS, dear readers, a snap from last weekend's London Vintage Kilo Sale...

Meet Lally. Student. Stylist. All-round good-egg. Lally was out and about helping to promote The Vintage Kilo Sale, five hours of London madness that saw the capital snaffle up 3 TONNES of vintage clothing [we'll be back on December 17th if anyone wants round two, as well as jaunts to Leeds and Edinburgh]

We can't really explain Lally's style and we think that's why we like it. Inexplica-chic [remember where you heard it first!] it's a great look! Catch Lally and our other street teams putting the 'prom' into 'promo' all over the UK and post here if you want to get involved.

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

'Totes' Amazing!

2011-11-01T16:16:00.000Z

It's official - we've sold out.

NOT REALLY! The only thing we're going to be selling out of are these, our wonderful new Judy's tote bags!

Available at all fairs [whilst stocks last] for a mere £3, they're perfect for popping your shopping, work or dogs in [we imagine fair dog Dolly would look adorable in this - pictures to come!] - what's not to love?

Get them whilst they're hot - we guarantee you'll look 'totes' amazing!

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

PS Rosettes not included - they need to be EARNT people!

Lowe and behold!

2011-10-31T19:39:00.000Z

Things can turn up in the strangest of places - that much we know is true. Now, we're not simply talking about the ordinary - car keys inexplicably in the fridge, bank cards lost in a plethora of 'safe places' [safe after a gin or two, clueless in the morning - note to self: STOP HIDING THINGS!] - but that which is extraordinary.

Such a thing happened at Bath yesterday afternoon. Our first event in the city, our expectations were high, despite being a little in the dark [literally - the clocks went back - and metaphorically. As with all new events, it would be cocky not to be a little on edge.] Safe to say, dear readers, that Bath was a hit. But in the midst of the shoppers, nobody could preempt the presence of a certain word that sends judders down every Heat-lovers spine [the magazine, not the temperature - is it possible to be a fan of warmth?? Debate!] 'Celebrity' was the word, a four-syllable glitter-ball that causes most to squeel like piggies.

Not even a month since our last brush with the stars [Chloe Sevigny - Liverpool circa October 2011] designer, icon and mother to one of the most smoldering creatures on the earth, Pearl Lowe came for a jolly [pictured with Fair Manager Kirstie who is in her 'marking-up' outfit, just so you know.]

A lady steeped in infamy, Pearl was a doll! Having a bit of retail r n' r, one wonders if she was seeking inspiration for her next capsule collection for store Peacocks? From what we saw on the front row of her summertime catwalk show [click here for details] our money's on yes.

And there we have it - another brush with stardom. 'Who will be next?' we hear you scream. We just couldn't call it. But if things go on at such a rapid rate, then we might have to start saving for a tangible 'hall of fame' before we know it [more of an alcove at the minute - hello extension!]

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

The Cosmo Blog Awards 2011

2011-10-27T18:56:00.000+01:00

Schmoozing and boozing on a Thursday night, it only means one thing - yes folks, we went to the Cosmos!

Nominated in the category of 'Best brand blog,' boy were we in love! Upon arrival, tribe after tribe of fashionistas and famous faces greeted the JAVFF team; from the established Katie and Joe of 'What Katie Wore' to Jen from 'Little Bird' [snapped above courtesy of Cosmo -what? It was our night off! After all you can't pap with a Cosmopolitan in each hand. Uncouth!] it's safe to say we were aghast at this room full of talent.

Unfortunately, we didn't win and the honour went to Topshop. But all in all, we had a blast! Goody bags, open bar and then a rickshaw through to Soho [such tourists!] - we call that a win! Here's a snapshot of Judy and I in double velvet, posing on the wall...

Oh what a night! Thank you all for your support and roll on 2012 - Cosmo, we're coming for you!

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

Under the Boardwalk

2011-10-22T13:46:00.001+01:00

New fairs - there's nothing quite like them; the pre-event jitters, the craning of the neck to see who walks through the door, the inability to stay still in the half hour before [note: if a doctor were to get hold of said symptoms, he'd probably disagree. Well, so far so good - vintage is our prescription, blood pressure be DAMNED!]

Nerves? Nerves be GONE! Just like many a GCSE candidate must feel in the moments following an oral exam, what was all the fuss about? [it probably had something to do with a tiny woman, wielding a stopwatch, a whistle and a whole lot of words you'll never understand. A WHISTLE, madame? Ce n'est pas Euro '96 et ce n'est pas cool!]

We digress. But safe to say, our very first foray to Bournemouth this month did not warrant a jitter. With hundreds of folks out and about, we recruited fashion writer Joseph Kent [of Unlimited by JK fame] to be our fashion eyes, ears, pen and lens. Take it away JK!

“I'll tell you what I've found out today about Bournemouth,” [fair founder]Judy Berger says to me. “We've had a very good mix of tribes today – students,twenty-something Indie kids, Steampunks, vintage enthusiasts and quite a fewfamilies. It's been very diverse.”

Indeed, Bournemouth has a varied community of people. Albeita student-dominated town, it would seem that a nationwide-famous, city-hoppingvintage fair draws in a diverse crowd from this stretch of the south coast.

For the past few years, Bournemouth has been a hot-spot forvintage and retro fashion, so when Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair announced itwas coming to the Bournemouth Pavilion ballroom, I knew it was to be asuccess. On the day itself, the event attracted hundreds and hundreds of bargain-hunting, vintage-loving individuals, all searching for that specialsomething to add to their wardrobes, drawers and dressing tables.

For me, I have only just begun my venture into vintage, butI still loved everything at the fair. Each stall was elegantly cluttered withknick-knacks and accessories, accompanied by rails and rails of timelessclothing. Silky scarves burst from chests and hampers, and jewellery glistenedfrom across the room.

With guests filtering in, soon the roomwas a jumbled highway of stylish shoppers adorned in the most vintage-esqueattire. Girls in fair isle jumpers and chiffon dresses floated among thestands, while guys in ties and tweed jackets rummaged through the racks.

With so many to snap, here's a selection of some of the best outfits found at the fair...

There we have it folks - do be sure to check Joseph in action here. Aztecs, autumnal shades, exuberant fabrics and a top hat or two. Remember, we're in London and Chester this weekend so remember - dress up! [or down - grunge on a Sunday - what's not to love?]

xVVx

www.jusysvintagefair.co.uk

The Cosmo Blog Awards: Just the Ticket

2011-10-17T16:41:00.000+01:00

It's not every Monday that leaves one feeling like a fictional character; granted, early-morning confrontations with your inbox can sometimes flatten your mood [never mind a check of your messages after a week-long holiday - yowzers!] and so we've all started the week a little 2D from time to time.

That said, today was an exception; sitting in our inboxes was a proverbial golden ticket, taking the form of an invitation to this year's Cosmo Blog Awards taking place next Wednesday. Mouth ajar like guppy in the wind, will you scream with me? 1,2,3....AHHHHHH!

Ahem, grasping for our dignity[and air - that was some scream!] we're delighted to be attending. Featuring the creme de la creme of the British blogosphere, we'll be on our best behaviour [minimal puns and even minimal-er dress code -well, we might slip some print in there somewhere!] As we [quite literally] take on our wardrobes, we just wanted to say a MASSIVE thanks to all who have made this possible. Charlie might've been happy when he found that ticket, but boy, it's not a patch on the euphoria permeating Judy HQ. Pinch us quick - we must be dreaming.

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

Chloë Sevigny: Big Love

2011-10-10T17:19:00.000+01:00

Yes folks. We had the same Tom-and-Jerry-eye-popping-from-their-sockets sensation when we gazed across Aintree Racecourse to see a certain someone, shopping through our rails. Knee-deep in discount vintage, American Psycho star and design muse Chloë Sevigny popped by to say hello. 'Hi Chloe,' we would've said, if the words had left our mouths. Still, better to say nothing than blurt-out a love proclamation and a possible invitation to marriage [or at least BFF.] Note to self: get.cooler.quickly.

Finally finding our syllables, Chloë was lovely, indulging in a shop because...well, why not? Making our Fair Manager's year [look at that face - we know pure, unadulterated fashion-y glee when we see it] she joins our hall of fame with Jade Jagger, Daisy Lowe and Florence Welch to name but a few. Who's next - we couldn't call it! For now, we are sated. Chloë, we <3 you!

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

Youth been Framed

2011-09-30T16:50:00.003+01:00

Well, that's it folks. Fresher's Week is almost over. As the sun sets on seven days of networking, BFF-ing and cradling your liver [not for us of course - one G&T in fair season and we're red-faced and ready for bed] it's left us with our thinking caps on. Doth our lenses deceive us or are freshers getting more hip?

Simple answer: yes. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding; Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle fairs saw trends in abundance - heritage, navajo, and more girls-dressed-like-boys than Blur could ever have dreamed of. To take an aerial view of each event would be a who's-who of cool; guys in Vans and gals in Docs, peacocking, completely comfortable in these vintage waters.

Now, we're not saying that students have been lackluster before this- heck, students are some of the snappiest, most adventurous dressers we have. Perhaps we're so abashed by these Dazed-worthy candidates because we [way back in....shudder....2006] were less so. Coming to the city in the middle of 'New Rave,' we were more day-glo overkill than the definition of chic [note to self: legs the colour of lightening is never a good look, no matter your love of the Klaxons.]

And so faux-pas are down; history isn't repeating itself [although the colour-block trend was enough to leave this blogger reaching for the face-paint..] As the Navajo-trio below seem to show, all's cool on campus. We can't wait to see what's next.

This weekend, we'll be visiting Lincoln, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Birmingham. Make sure to say hello!

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

Steel-City Chic

2011-09-24T10:00:00.000+01:00

The second city we ever visited, we've a soft spot for Sheffield; cooing over shoes on Division Street, Jumanji-style hijinx in the Winter Gardens, the Moses-style water-wall as you leave the station - heck what's not to love.

Holding a fair there TODAY [the Workstation next to the Showroom Cinema, click here for details] we've been out on the streets to meet our people; move over Milan - Sheff got style!

Super-chic indeed. All the fun of the fair to come.

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

And the nominees are...

2011-09-23T15:30:00.000+01:00

Sometimes taking the news with breakfast can be a dangerous thing; coffee scolds, burning toast and Cheerios propelled from the mouth, into the bowl below.

Yesterday was one such morning. Over a pre-PM peruse of our messages and news,we discovered this: we've been nominated for a Cosmo!

Yes, the above big, pink button of joy signifies that we're up for a Blog Award! Nominated in the category of 'Best Brand Blog' [up against Russel and Jo - what? that's a good joke!] safe to say, it was brekky to remember.

Now here come the pleading, encouraging, get-down-on-your-knees-ing part: readers, we need YOU! If you enjoy our style news, our views, our overuse of puns - please, click here [or on the Cosmo balloon above] and vote for us for Best Brand Blog. We may not be the biggest [sharing a category with Topshop - hello fear/reverence!] but we want to show that the underdog's got B-I-T-E! Out with the identikit and in with vintage - you know what to do!

Now, to return this soapbox to whence it came and leave you all in peace.

Adieu vintage fans - here's to making dreams come true.

xVVx

www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

T-T-T-Telephone...

2011-09-19T17:45:00.000+01:00

Fashion week[s]. We don't know how the 'frowers do it. Bundled on planes from one runway to another - we'd be a little more DVT than DVF if lifted into their Louboutins.

Added to Fashion Week, it's Fresher's week, signalling the launch of our Autumn circuit ['hooray!' you may gasp. We'll raise you a 'hooray' and give you an 'ohmylordijustcannotWAIT!'] Calling at a whopping 30 cities from Scotland to the South coast, safe to say there's a lot on our plates. Penciling in an enamouring, we'll come back to fashion throughout the week, as we take to the streets to meet our public [Sheffield, Leeds, Lincoln & Liverpool - watch this space!]

But before we jet-off, we wanted to talk to you about a micro-trend we've spotted that goes beyond the wardrobe, one that we're calling 'land-line's got talent.'

From burgandy to burger [we've all seen Juno - hello McPhone!] the land-line is back, with shoppers literally hanging off them at The Vintage Furniture Flea. Doing a little research, we found this wonderful film blog, ilovehotdogs, for anyone wanting a little inspiration when choosing the right retro communicative device.

Stay tuned this week as we foray back into fashion [who are we kidding - between Judy gallivanting with Matthew Williamson and our intermittent googling of Burberry, fashion never took a backseat] and join us as we head into full-on FAIR SEASON!

Ciao for now,

xVVx
www.judysvintagefair.co.uk

Leeds: Shaking it up like a Bombay Mix

2011-09-08T15:23:00.009+01:00

To say that we're supposed to take inspiration from seasoning this season [one imagines the conversations now - 'excuse me mr. vintage trader, do these blouses come in masala? I wanted to wear it with a saffron jean but i'm worried it might 'tikka' it too far....'] then Leeds was one 'spicy meat-a-ball. [excuse the slightly stereotypical Italian accent here - it's the seasoning,it's gone too our heads]

Whether you're into it or not, our Leeds Corn Exchange shoppers were shaking it up like a Bombay mix. Take a look below....

Prints, brights,gothic chic - a smorgasbord of choice on offer when considering your winter looks [all of which can be found at our fairs in london and brighton this weekend] Whatever your angle, the days of a demure cold season are a terra-gonner.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Trend Alert: Morticia-Chic

2011-09-02T16:11:00.013+01:00

All hands on deck, we've recruited our new Judy's assistant into a bit of Joe-blogging this week, as we begin our forray into the A/W trends. Turning to the dark side, our Iz shows you the Siouxsie-Sioux and don'ts of working this season's gothic trends....

"Say hello to purple lips, smokey eyes and the gothic darling...get ready to paint it black.

Despite colorful bursts of mustard, red and blue, the dark side reigns supreme this season; fetish remains mainstream and black lace at Lanvin demonstrate how many designers are delving into the mysterious craze of GOTH.

With a little goth in all of us, why not embrace Autumn to experiment, turning to vintage to get authentic punk and gothic looks [after all, faded is the way forward!]

The return of the cold weather has allowed layering to re-enter our outfits, allowing an even greater way to show-off your wardrobe!! Layer faded leather with inky velvets and some shiny PVC then, if it’s extra chilly, get some 80’s mohair in there to boot. On warmer days, mix sheer fabrics and lace, mixing up your textiles but not your colours to channel the single-pallette trend.

But what of footwear? Think back a season to Prada creepers! When hunting for creepers, keep your peepers open for vintage - they're much more affordable. Go for the triple soles - bigger is better when going for goth.

Think bold, think big think... Robert Smith! We want studded leather. We want ripped fishnets. We want sky-high platforms with hair-dos to match! Do all this and you'l be the chicest fashionista in the shade!"

There we have it folks - the 411 on Morticia-chic. For anyone in Leeds this weekend, Izzy [featured below - bear not to scale] will be out and about papping our free vintage weekender - don't be afraid to say hello!

xVVx & Izzy, the Vintage Warrior

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Life through a Lens with Judy HQ

2011-08-31T17:25:00.013+01:00

They say a 'picture is worth a thousand words' and, this time, we're going to believe them.

In that vain, we wanted to treat you to a little occular delight [oh dear, it sounds like a Halloween dessert] to catch you up with all that we've been up to these past few weeks. Set phasers to 'stunning' - these pics will blow you away...

Plane-sailing at Fly to the Past Festival

Talk about 'pin-up...'

Paisleys and pea-greens at the Spitalfields Bank Holiday Vintage Market

Baring all whilst treading the boards - it's Proud Cabaret

Looking sharp - 'A pencil full of lead' at Spitalfields

And there we have it - hi-jinx, sky-jinx and a whole host more. As we embark on fair season '11/12, the above image says it all; 'these are the good old days' vintage fans, and we're delighted to be spending them with you.

For anyone in Leeds this weekend, catch us for a free vintage weekender here.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Trend Alert: Hell For Leather

2011-08-23T16:31:00.006+01:00

Leather-envy; the very notion of it was, until recently, preposterous in my mind.

Sure, like most of you I have flirted with leather; a jacket dalliance here, a waistcoat romance there – these liaisons always appeared to be a little too dangereuses upon looking in the mirror, leading all inclination to be a leather-clad maverick to be swiftly filed away.

Happy in my leather-free bubble, I watched bondage-clad collections at Marc Jacobs roll out; I looked on as Gaga rolled about like a cow-skin princess; I stood back as vintage shops stocked-up on leather coats to be oh-so-seventies –still, I felt nothing. Content in not looking like an extra from the Matrix, I thought i’d soldier on indefinitely.

Little was I to know that leather was to land on my doorstep [figuratively speaking of course] Former bookings gal and serial shopper Samantha and I were perusing the Judy's stalls at the South Bank when we found it - the thing that was to shatter my allusions in a big, biker-y mess. Cropped, one-off and emblazoned - it was bad-ass in a jacket form. Crowning the item was a lone wolf, howling to the graffiti moon.

The above picture is not an image of the jacket [or myself and Samantha - what 'lols' that would be!] but a picture from the 70s epic 'The Warriors.' Know why? Because this jacket made me want to be one of 'The Warriors,' cleaning up the streets with quick quips, running around on subways [wouldn't quite be the same running around on the Northern Line - I think i'd have to emmigrate] and embracing la vie en leather.

Of course, the jacket wasn't for me [and was a girls. and too small] and so all that remains is a solid case of leather envy. Adding insult to injury is the resurgence of the Native American trend which goes so very well with leather [a kind of cowboy-meets-indian car-crash - now that's what i'm going for] Until fair season, I have my eye set on this tassel-tastic number from vintage vendor Burger & Fries...

Luckilly, fair season starts this coming Monday with Spitalfields [hooray!] and so I shouldn't have to wait too long. Until then, I guess my wax jacket will have to cut it. But know this -my Navajo-ly Grail is out there. Somewhere. And one day, it will be mine.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Tis the season [isn't it?]

2011-08-16T15:36:00.006+01:00

The sign of a must-have outfit is one that makes you throw caution to your surroundings. We've all been there - short-shorts in Autumn, black in the blistering heat - so set are we in our choice of wardrobe that it doesn't matter what is beyond the curtains sometimes.

Inducing the same kind of sado-masochism-come-style is our new A/W Flyer! In all of it's Jill Sander block-colour glory, it makes us want to pack away the Factor 50 and pile on the pea coats pronto! Roll on A/W [no matter what the weather]

xVVx

For a full list of our A/W dates, head over to our homepage stat!

Drink, Shop & [Up]Do

2011-08-10T17:31:00.006+01:00

Making waves [quite literally] in the vintage world is a place named after three verbs: Drink, Shop, Do. Roaming vintage ragamuffin and reporter Gina Louise went to take a look at the salon-come-milkshake-shack to see why it's being labeled heads above the rest...

'Thank god for Bettie Page. Not only was she a pioneer of '50s glamour, but her iconic over-the-eyebrow fringe means that when my DIY hair cut ends up an inch shorter than I intended (as it often does), I can simply cite the original pin up queen and disaster is averted. If only I knew about her when my mum used to cut my hair at school!

But having a fringe this short makes it notoriously difficult to train into any other style, and being bright ginger brings in another issue - what make up to wear. So accepting my lack of knowledge in the grooming department, I decided to put my beauty in the hands of professionals Dolly and Rhonda, and pop-

ped down to their ’Pin-Up’ Vintage Hair & Make-Up night down at Drink, Shop & Do in North London.

In a matter of minutes I'm sitting at their make-shift beauty station, enjoying a milkshake and chatting with the beautiful Rhonda, a hair stylist who loves nothing more than to do '60s beehives. I go for some slightly more subtle '40s waves, and she begins curling, pinning and spraying my hair to her heart's content. I learn how to use a parting to influence curls, and how to hide or accentuate that awkward fringe of mine, depending on where the mood takes me.

I was then passed over to Dolly, who shattered the illusion that you can't mix and match hair and make up colours. No matter how bright your bangs are, there's a shade of make up right for you. She teams green and brown eye shadow with some sultry eye liner, with some exaggerated brows and cherry red lips. A look that I'd never have thought would work on a red head, but she pulls it off perfectly.

With my pin up curls and movie star make up I looked like I'd stepped out of a time machine, but, being a school night, I was all dolled up with nowhere to go. And that's where the trusty head scarf came in - not just good for those days when your hair's hygiene is a little past its sell-by-date, it's good for putting your curls on ice until you're ready to unleash them to the world. And on Saturday night, I let my hair down. Literally. And teamed with a few techniques I'd learnt from the girls about prolonging your style, I was ready to go.

But if you don't think your hair will last that long without a wash, or you're not up for wearing the same make up for 3 days straight, then never fear - the girls do personal bookings too. So if you've got a hen do to plan, or you're just feeling like you need a bit of extra attention on a Saturday night, email the girls on dollyandrhonda@gmail.com - not only are they good at what they do, but they are lovely with it.'

xVVx & Gina, Queen of Vintage

www.vintagefair.co.uk

The Vintage Festival: Swing Lowe

2011-08-03T17:36:00.013+01:00

'Pirouettes, tutus, ballet,' you may stipulate, in response to the above image, 'isn't that a bit passé?' Perhaps, dear reader, we'll give you that; reminiscent of a mere 8 months ago when we were all Colin Firth and Celine capes, the family Lowe's choice of prima ballerinas on the runway does feel a little bit yester-year.

The new capsule collection for Peacocks by Pearl, Daisy [and mini-Lowe Betty, aged 4] showcased at The Vintage Festival is none-the-less spectacular; lace, corsets and feathers in amber, duck-egg blue and ivory swept across the runways. Inspired by the flapper from the 1920s and using vintage fabrics, the collection ditches connotations of classicism, the show itself a little more burlesque than ballet. Lightyears from the OTT plumage of Jean Paul Gaultier [whose A/W collection looks to be designed for super villains not super models] the Lowe look is a tale of two halves; demure yet contemporary, feminine yet edgy [though the using sheer fabrics] as light as a feather with a certain gravity.

At the end of the show, all the Lowes appeared, Daisy looking stunning in a collared tea dress. The audience, a million miles away from the usual 'Frow' crowd of designers and celebrities, lapped it up. It is in this moment that one realises what a wonderful ethos The Vintage Festivals holds to its heart; as well as shining a light on the brands and icons that have made up 50 years of fashion history, the light is very much on the public, the everyday styles, items and idiosyncrasies that in the words of Mr Hemingway 'make us the coolest nation on earth.' In helping to further that, Lowe [both Daisy and Pearl] we salute you.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

The Vintage Festival: Seventy years of Style

2011-08-01T13:48:00.008+01:00

For any vintage fan who has picked up a paper in the last few months, the following mantra regarding 'Vintage at the South Bank' may ring familiar; "Vintage at the South Bank is a sensual delight," states Wayne Hemingway, design mogul and man behind the event; "Vintage is a big dressing up box, a collectors dream, a creative feast."

For anyone stood on site, a quick 3-60 concretes this statement; little Liza Minellis handed out samples, ladies with parasols and gents in hats watched the Chap Olympiad whilst a gaggle of fifties gal-pals walked on by. From Jimmy Saville to Savile Row, no look was left untouched.

Whilst nobody can deny that 'Vintage at the South Bank' was a sensory buffet, some could have a bone to pick with the any suggestion of 'fancy-dress;' With bloggers, the BFC, journalists and celebrities on site, 'Vintage at the South Bank' was much more than a cabaret old chum; a testament to the integrity of vintage as both a style and a lifestyle, check out our best-dressed selection below and see that retro is so much more than treading the boards....

For more photos from a wonderful weekend at the South Bank, check out our Facebook page - mid-century furniture, celebs, men channeling 'Saturday Night Fever' and a lorra lorra wonderful stock, take a look here.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

The Vintage Festival: Dog Days

2011-07-30T17:19:00.003+01:00

'Celebratis paralysis' [NB: latin subject to translation ] - it's every Joe Blogger's greatest fear; that awkward moment when confronted with anyone of a certain status, be they singer, model, actor or other, when your tongue is tied , resulting in looking like a blithering idiot.

Luckily, that didn't happen at The Vintage Festival this afternoon when we bumped into Florence Welch + friends. A notorious vintage fiend, Flo shopped the stalls, channeling a look that was boho-meets-sorceress [and channeling it well!] Picking up a pair of boots from trader Dusty&Dylan, and discussing the annoyance of hat stealers [a subject very dear to our hearts] she was a dream.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

The Vintage Festival: Day One

2011-07-30T11:41:00.004+01:00

They say that seeing is believing but sitting on the South Bank, I'm beginning to cast my doubts; to the left, a set of dandys have landed on site, forties from head to toe, tweeking their moustaches and smoking a pipe. Straight ahead lay atomic-print chairs, silver cigarette machines, and a blinking set of lights from a bygone New York ['from the twenties to be precise' adds a trader, dressed like Capone. For a moment, i lose myself, scrambling to find my era.]

For those of you out of the loop, I am of course talking about 'Vintage at the South Bank;' the mother of all vintage events, we've had the privelege of cultivating, assembling and creating the largest vintage marketplace on the continent, all for a weekend [and free to enter]

Looking around, many are as abashed as I am in this land without time; flappers sip on cider whilst flicking through the rails; a man in milatary regalia examines an Ercol chair and a gaggle of eighties shoulder pads are trying on some shoes.

Camera in hand, I bid adieu to my decade. Lost and loving it, it's time for a spot of time travel. If you're in the city this weekend, we hope to see you too.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

The Vintage Festival cometh!

2011-07-26T16:54:00.003+01:00

Suitcases are packed; maps have been drawn; packed-lunches are being pondered upon; we're not talking about the mother of all geography trips - we're talking about Vintage at the South Bank.

Heading down tomorrow, we'll be in the Big Smoke all weekend, hosting over 150 of the UK's tip-top traders at the free vintage market place, all down the South Bank. We'll be posting like there's not tomorrow so keep your eyes on the blog, facebook and twitter accounts [and Southern folk, come say hello in the flesh!] Check out the first stages of the build here.

London, we're a-coming.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Because there's no rest for the wicked....

2011-07-22T12:56:00.004+01:00

That's right folks; the time is nigh. Next weekend, we'll be torn in two as we head North and South for two [read it, two] huge festivals.

Dusting off our wellies from Lovebox, we'll be setting up shop in the idyllic environs of Kendall Calling from the 29th. As well as bringing some tip-top traders for you to peruse, catch us busting shapes to Mr. Scruff and queuing for a bedtime story from Debbie Harry in the library [high-brow huh?] Show them some love here.

As if that wasn't enough, we'll be buffing our brogues and raiding our wardrobes before heading to London to live the vintage-lovers dream - we're talking Vintage at the South Bank.

The sequel to Vintage at Goodwood, we're curating Mr Hemingway's festival, responsible for the 150-trader vintage marketplace at the South Bank. With free entry to the marketplace Friday [29th] through to Sunday, we expect to see you there [look out for a fella in a cape and cut-offs wielding a Nasa-esque headpiece and Bob's your uncle, you've found me!] Limited tickets for the rest of the event are still up for grabs so have a browse here.

Until then fans, see you [quite literally] in the field,

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Kilo Instinct

2011-07-20T15:40:00.006+01:00

Everyone enjoys a fresh set of peepers; with that in mind, we sent Spoonfed's Gina Louise into the mecca of all East-side vintage events - The Vintage Kilo Sale. Sack in hand and cardie in the other, let's see how she got on...

"The word 'vintage' is never far from the lips of Brick Lane shoppers, but on Saturday there was no room for any other topic of conversation (not even asymmetric hair cuts got a look in)

As I made the walk from Bethnal Green Road to the Rag Factory, I could make out one common theme from the babble of passers by: the Vintage Kilo Sale. Swarms of excited shoppers were trundling past, most with huge bags of second hand finds slung over their shoulders like Santa's sack. As I wavered on the entrance to the warehouse, it was time to see if I'd been naughty or nice this year...

It turns out I must've been on my best behaviour, as over 70 rails of vintage treasures awaited me inside; floral tee dresses through '70s tennis vests to bolshy shoulder padded numbers all called out to me from the hangars. For those of you who love a good rummage, there were plenty of boxes beneath the rails, full of shoes, bags, scarves and other bits, waiting to be stuck into. My advice is to dig deep as these are always worth a look - I've unearthed some of my best finds here!

When the common theme of an event is bargain hunting, I'm always surprised that people aren't more savage to get to the goods. Perhaps it's all the lifting of tea cups and finger sandwiches with our pinkies on parade, but everyone was polite, and I didn't have to pull anyone's hair [although I learnt the hard way not to let my clothes out of my site in the changing room, as after admiring myself in a '50s swing dress, I turned to see a group of girls cooing over the cardie my nana knitted me. Hands off ladies!]

But disaster averted, I left with all my own clothes, and a few more to boot. At only £15 pound a kilo, I shopped safe in the knowledge that if something wasn't quite right, I could afford to customize a few pieces [although knowing how lonely my good intentions and sewing kit get, I'll probably not bother]"

One-nil to Gina's augmenting vintage wardrobe, we say...success! The Vintage Kilo Sale returns in Autumn, with stops at both Leeds and London. Our advice? Get culling your cupboards now.

xVVx [& Gina, Queen of the Kilo]

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Lovebox 2011: Singing in the Rain

2011-07-19T14:49:00.004+01:00

There's something quite primeval about festival season; the backseat of personal hygiene, the secret lust to run out of battery [being incommunicado for a week - take that, reality!] setting up tents and leopard-print dresses all conjure an image that's a little more Fred and Wilma than Mr. modernity.

Luckilly [peraps] we had none of that this weekend as we curated Lovebox, set in the heart of Victoria Park. Not a poorly-pitched teepee in sight, Lovebox does not permit camping, forcing us to head back to society each night for some shut-eye.

Setting-up shop by Thursday, our traders looked wonderful; candy-striped roofs shone like toothpaste in the sun with a sea of glasses, prints and fabrics spilling out underneath. With the public coming in on a sunny London Friday, we were set to go.

Alas, as the poet and potential-weather-man Robert Frost [see, it's in the name] once wrote, 'nothing gold can stay;' giving the Great Flood a run for it's money, London got wet. Luckily, we took a few snaps in the sun before the clouds came home...

Seizing a moment of sun, none other than Jade Jagger came for a wander of the marketplace, leaving with a pair of vintage sunnies [and a quick pose]

Our first festival of the season [we'll be at 6 others over summer - click here for deets!] we came to a rather British conclusion; sometimes you've just got to muck in [instead of being a stick in the mud] Come [biblical] showers or shine, our parade remains unrained upon.

See you [quite literally] in the field!

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Life is a cabaret, old chum

2011-07-14T15:04:00.004+01:00

It goes without saying that buses are rarely glamorous; [sometime] surly drivers in hats, finding the right change, Jason Derulo blurted out of a mobile phone - a double-decker disaster, waiting to happen.

That said, those rascals at Proud Caberet have gone and turned suburban travel on its head with their latest teaser [and teaser is the word] Fresh off the buses, international glamourpuss Miss Betsy Rose is in town, making public transport the most sultry it's ever been...

As Betsy ditty-bops all over the capital [with complete disregard for the Highway Code - don't try this at home kids] you can see clearly why Proud is so dear to us; fun, seductive, indulgent yet chic, it encapsulates everything that vintage is supposed to be; the glamour of a bygone area, the stories of a fallen republic, drama, mystery, intrigue [and giggles] - it's a mission we both hold dear.

As time ticks on, we're delighted to announce Proud's presence at our Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Brighton events [rsvp kids!] If a spot of pseudo-time-travel is right up your alley then pencil us in and let's party like it's 1929.

Can-canning out,

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

60s Style: Playing Devil's Advocate

2011-07-11T17:25:00.010+01:00

Inspiration strikes in the strangest of places; crushed into the bosom of your neighbour on a Mega Bus, queuing behind the jumble-shufflers at the Post Office, squinting in inebriation on a Friday night- nobody knows when the proverbial lightbulb will land atop your head but when it lands, it lands.

Denying a glorious Sunday evening the attention it deserved [dirty show off, British summertime!] my Sunday night was spent with the curtains drawn and Polanski's sixties classic, Rosemary's Baby, on the screen [nothing contextualises a self-inflicted sore head like a spot of demonic possession on a weekend]

Aside from a serious case of the heebie-jeebies [Mia Farrow is led into madness by a bunch of recorder-playing, mousse-making, Satan-praising geriatrics who want her baby back. Necromancy aside, the image of anyone over fourteen playing a recorder is repulsive enough!] I found myself struck with something other than sheer unadulterated horror - a bad case of fashion envy. Take a look at Mia's looks below and hopefully, you'll see why....

Embroidered collars , polo necks, space-age prints and glorious shifts - there's no denying that our heroine Rosemary is delightfully 60s [with an incredible home to match - definitely worth a pause and a swoon when watching!]

As we soldier on through Summer into A/W, a resurgence of all things sixties is already on the cards - Issa, Louis Vuitton and Mulberry all channeled the era, rewinding the seventies trend that dominated this season. For anyone wanting to pre-empt the trend for a bargainous price, the Vintage Kilo Sale will be rolling up to London this Saturday [16th] selling wares from the 60s - 80s at £15 per kilo. For more details, click here.

As for Mia, we couldn't ask for a sexier, edgier more aesthetic epitome of the sixites' cult status [pardon the pun] The devil wears Prada and boy, does she wear it well.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

The Vintage Kilo Sale takes place @ The Rag Factory, 16 - 18 Heneage Street, Saturday 16th July 11am - 4pm. Click here for details.

Purple reign, Purple reign...

2011-07-05T14:47:00.006+01:00

Cyclical in nature, fashion has a habit of bringing things back into the limelight - sheer skirts, bell-bottoms, big hats - there are trends that orbit into our wardrobes every ten seasons or so [often eclipsing our fashion sense in the process] That said, there are some items that refuse to spirograph in and out of our lives, some icons that will never be anything but 'du jour.' In this vintage industry that we call home, nothng is more alluring than staying-power and today we give you the poster boy of staying-put - Prince!

Headlining Hop Farm last Sunday, the media is abuzz with stories of the artist more limber than an early Shakira video. His rapport with fashion and popular culture as poignant as ever [white jumpsuit - hello Michael Kors A/W 11] it's hard to believe that he's 53. The reliability and eccentricity of an LBD meets a 'Raspberry Beret,' Prince, like our vintage, gets better with age.

In other slightly tenuous fashion-meets-fame news, guess who we spotted at our Cumbria vintage fair...

Perplexed and pointing his finger at the goodies waiting on the rails, it was safe to say this this gent [be he Bono or wanna-Bono] "still hadn't found what he was looking for." Luckily, the vintage fair team were on hand to help, admiring his use of the Judy's colours in the meantime. His belt reads 'Rockstar' and those hips don't lie.

Ciao for now

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Baby you're a Firework...

2011-07-04T13:36:00.006+01:00

Giddy-up vintage fans, for today is the fourth of July! In celebration of our overseas brothers-from-other-mothers, we've been out and about papping the best bits of Americana to make your heart go boom.

Everyone knows that Navajo is a big trend this season but boy howdy, talk about wearing it on your chest. With Native American and Aztec prints, it really doesn't matter how you wear it as long as you wear it with pride. Dress it down, dress it up [we'll call you 'Dances with Mulberrys'] and wig wam bam, you're onto a winner.

More American than a Whitehouse wrapped in a hamburger, you can't get more American than denim [interesting fact: denim is originally French in origin, created in Nimes, or de Nimes as it was abbreviated to. Everyday's a school day!] Boot-cut, stone-washed, skinny or flared, we can't help but love a Levi. All-weather and effortlessly chic, chinos eat your heart out!

We could wax lyrical all the livelong day about tassels, totems and all things 'outremer' but we've got work to do [and things to blow up.] We leave you with this rather peculiar vintage postcard hailing from the States. Fiery, cute and a little inappropriate [British Health and Safety staff would have a hernia!] - God Bless the USA!

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

A fine day out at Cumbria's Affordable Vintage Fair - Rheged, Penrith

2011-06-29T09:24:00.002+01:00

We had an absolute blast at our first event at Rheged, Penrith, Cumbria. Over 950 shoppers filled the halls to pick up a vintage bargain. As ever fair manager Sarah B and I did a spot of shopping before the doors opened. Here's a little selection of what we found..

I snapped up this very pretty 1950s Horrockses dress for £50 - I'm building up quite a collection.

This lovely little 1970s Dorothy Perkins maxi was a steal at £38, in pristine condition. I accessorised with one of the fabulous Karina's bags, hand made from leather direct from Mulberry.

Sarah B will be going all 60s this A/W so she snapped up this cute shift and will decide at a later date which shoes to work it with.

Sarah also picked out these amazing patent boots from Russell and Bromley for a mere £30. Excited!

Festival Inspiration

2011-06-21T18:14:00.001+01:00

So, with festival season just about in full swing [half of the office are about to depart for Glastonbury...jel] I thought it was time to start trawling the world wide web for festival attire ideas. For me it's important to have a well thought out, but most of all FUN, festival wardrobe. A few of my favourite festival essentials are in the montage below.

* Ray Ban 3447's a la Ellie Goulding are a must

* American walking boots are my footwear of choice

[unless the mud is knee deep, when I reach for the Hunters!]

* One of the most beautiful playsuits I have ever set eyes on and...

a crown of roses, why not eh?!

Judy's will be at Lovebox,Vintage at Southbank, Kendal Calling, Beacons and End of the Road... that's a lot of outfits and FUN!

BGT x

One of my all time top five Favourite Favourite Ebayers.....

2011-06-20T17:31:00.007+01:00

I love lists and am a firm believer in the only way something can be appreciated properly is when it is settled firmly within a rank order. So in true High Fidelity style I'd like to share with you one of my all time top five favourite ebayers.......hector081!!! This is not a vintage shop it's just one lady with incredibly good taste parting with some of the most amazing dresses I've ever seen to get the roof of her cottage fixed. I've been watching over the last year and am amazed at the quality and style of some of them.

One of my favourites was this Horrockses gem which sold recently:

And here are a couple that are currently listed:

I would very much recommend any lover of super dooper pretty frocks keeps an eye on this ebayer!

P.S. She also seems to have a very lovely garden!

BGT - Let loose in York

2011-06-15T23:24:00.003+01:00

York was A M A Z I N G and as usual I found lots of beautiful things for you to look at. There were plenty of summer gems to get excited about, here are some of my best bits, brought to you with the help of the lovely Laura from Purple Haze Vintage York...

Two items that came home with moi were this rose print original 50's dress, £30 from Purple Haze [if you're ever in York check it out, one of my favourite vintage shops, ever]...

...and something I have been lusting after for like, forever, black denim dungarees a la Alexa, a mere £15 from our friends at Mighty Baby.

I can't wait to rummage through the rails in Chester this Saturday. I'll leave you with a style shot of another one of our faves, perfect outfit Jen!

Peace,

BGT x

New venture alert! New venture alert!

2011-06-14T17:04:00.007+01:00

Greeting loved ones,

Hold onto your hats for Judy's brings you....

50 vintage stalls + free parking + farmers market = TASTY![so you'd better skip lunch!] Let us know you're coming here.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Grecian meets the streets!

2011-06-09T13:24:00.003+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

Move over geek chic - S/S '11 on the vintage scene is all about Greek Chic. Check out one of our Spitalfields traders in full Herculean glory, teaming white dress with a Moschino belt and scuffed white Converse. Urban meets ancient world - we like!

We'll be back in Spitalfields for the August Bank Holiday [check out our official page here] so you've got plenty of time to get those noses buried in the history books.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

A Feast for the Eyes

2011-06-07T00:20:00.000+01:00

It's been a fair few weeks since my last blog post, in this time I have been busily collecting lots of amazing bits and pieces from Judy's for you to feast your eyes on. I'm a lucky lady, I have been so happy with my purchases of late and there have been so many bargains! It's about time I shared them all with our lovely blog followers.

The beaut white lace insert midi dress above was picked up at our Cambridge fair for a mere £12.

When I spied these vintage Jones the Bootmaker leopard print booties I could hardly contain my excitement. Alexa Chung has designed some awfully similar ones for her autumn Madewell collection,I love hers but in my eyes vintage wins hands down!

This super sweet hand-made 60's number was £20 from Once Upon a Time Vintage at our Glasgow fair you can check them out here.

I've been searching far and wide for a flocked tulle dress so Judy and I snapped this one and a similar one up for uniform as soon as we saw them.

I'll be getting plenty of use out of this floral headpiece this festival season...

There'll be plenty more to blog about after York this Sunday, I'm sure

Ta'ra for now,

BGT x

You can't always get what you want...

2011-06-06T18:29:00.004+01:00

........or can you? Remember this beaut from my blog post? Well someone bought it for what I thought was a good bargain at £20 plus £4.41 p &p, which is £24.21 more than I can afford or justify spending on a daft 50s novelty clock.

However, look what was waiting for me at the carboot sale this week! Admittedly, it doesn't have the knife and fork hand, but it is still delightfully kitsch.

Not only is it cute as a button, but here I shall relay the conversation that took place which meant it had to come home with me:

Me: How much is this?

Seller: £1

My friend Sarah: Don't be ridiculous, you have lots of clocks (or words to that effect)

Me: Sorry mate

Seller: How about 50p?

Me: I really can't, sorry

Seller: 20p?

Me: ............ Oh for goodness sake, go on then.

Most would argue that is still 20p too much, but nevertheless, here it is in in situ, wound and telling time in my kitchen!

This week I have mostly.......

2011-06-02T22:36:00.005+01:00

Been coveting things I cannot afford and/or do not need. No change there then!! This beaut of a Horrockses dress is from one of my favourite ebay sellers emmapeelpants:If I had the dosh I would certainly make an offer!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280688830235&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

Another one of my favourite ebay sellers who always has the best in twentieth century design is leapinglad, currently has one of my favourite designs ever on offer! Calyx by Lucienne Day:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vintage-retro-Calyx-fabric-Lucienne-Day-Heals-1950s-/290572281124?pt=UK_Crafts_Fabric_Textiles_SM&hash=item43a7752524

And just for fun, I love this amazing 1950s clock, and I think its a bit of a bargain too! It has a knife and fork for hands!! What more could you ask for!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Original-1950s-Frying-Pan-Kitchen-Clock-/230628417277?pt=UK_Collectables_Kitchenalia_RL&hash=item35b2865efd

Acceptable in the 80s [and 90s. And Now]

2011-06-02T14:55:00.007+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

A few glorious fairs and some terrible TV, we've got our trend-hunting hats on. A big one we've clocked comes in couple form - the matching outfit!

There's no chicer way to say "i love you, fellow fashion fan" than matching paisley or wool-on-wool. The jury's out on whether the lady above's clutching a banana - we'll leave that up to you.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Summer in the City: Judy's comes to Spitalfields

2011-05-27T11:06:00.014+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

In light of our partnership with the Old Spitalfields Market this Bank Holiday Monday, we've been perusing our traders to see what wonderful wares they're going to be offering up. It turns out that inbetween chinwagging, tea-drinking and the like, many of them have been busy with glorious S/S photoshoots! Cop an eyeful of these ba-bies [odd Austin Powers voice but hey, it's Friday...]

Zesty colours, oversized accessories, pleating and a cheeky hulahoop - all incredibly 'groovy.' If that's not enough to get you out and about and down Spitalfields market on Monday, who knows what will!

Have a lovely Bank Holiday one and all. I'm going to go exorcise Mike Myers from my vocabulary before it's too late.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

"When I die, I want to go to Vogue"

2011-05-24T10:39:00.002+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

We give you Brighton's Affordable Vintage Fair through the lens of Esther Ling....

Asking around, many never knew that Esther was there. A budding photographer, there is no sense of invasion in the faces and surfaces she snaps; she is never reflected, never acknowledged, never asks to pose - what we have is reality [and how beautiful it is!]

David Bailey once said "when I die, I want to go to Vogue" but honestly, who could be bothered with that? If this is Brighton's Affordable Vintage Fair in all of its reality, then take me to the seaside. Esther, let's roll film!

The rest of Esther's work can be found here.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Sunday Morning Fever!

2011-05-22T11:43:00.003+01:00

Morning loved ones!

The doors are open at Bethnal Green and [be]gee whizz, what a show we've seen. Fresh out of the 70s, check out these cool kids below - never before have I longed after flairs but now i'm looking at my skinnies in DISGUST...

See you on Monday [possibly with a perm]

xVVx

Because everyone loves a compliment...

2011-05-19T15:09:00.008+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

It goes without saying that everyone love a compliment. In light of this, we wanted to take the time out to show you some of the lovely things that not just our customers, but our traders [those be-bum-bagged chaps and glamorous ladies that chat to you from behind their stalls each week] have had to say about standing with Judy's thus far. In true children's TV presenter fashion, let's go...

"Dear Judy,

I had a very good day - in fact it's the best fair I've done in a long time so I was thrilled to be there!

I look forward to more successful fairs with you in the future!"

Chloe from Hatastic

"Hi Judy/everyone,

I can see how hard you all work leading up to the fair and on the day. You’re fairs are always well run and friendly! Thanks for running the fairs because if you didn’t then I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing. I’ll definitely be booking the next Brighton fair."

Nicky

"Hi Judy,

I was a stall holder on Sunday, and I had a terrific day, made more than I have at any other vintage markets I have done in the past!!! I was really pleased and thought the whole atmosphere was amazing, venue, live music and the cupcakes!! All in all a fab day. Well done!!"

Jamie

"Just wanted to let you know that I had my first stall at Brighton and I had a fantastic day. I made good money and met some brilliant people. There was a good atmosphere all day. The stall holders around me were great and I spent most of the day smiling.

I thought the day was well organised and well planned. I have nothing but praise for all of you to organise such an event. I am guessing it takes a lot of planning. I can't wait to have a stall again and i'm sending in an application form for Kendal Calling Festival."

Charlotte, Fairy Vintage

There we have it folks - straight from the proverbial horses mouths [not the most pleasant of sayings is it? like reverse horse-whispering....] Through shed-loads of work, an INHUMAN amount of chocolate freddos and the odd grey hair or two [if it's good enough for Georgey Lamb, it's good enough for me] we try to give our fairs, well, everything and keep our traders [and you lot] as happy as larry...

[NB: This is not 'Larry.' This is Hazel, who can be found at Cambridge and London this weekend. If anyone knows who 'Larry' actually is, and why he's so happy all the time, send your answers on a postcard to P.O Box Judy HQ] x

"You sound like you're from..."

2011-05-16T12:17:00.005+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

We hope that you're well and celebrated accordingly our newfound spot in the Eurovision chart - hooray! Although we won't be booking plane tickets to Azerbaijan [mostly due to our inability to locate the elusive land on a map!] we are milking the Estonian/ German/ Serbian entries to death! Eastern-European Katy Perry, a German Cheryl Cole, sixties in Serbia - what's not to love?

An event that was a world away from "nil point," we're recovering from a lovely weekend in Brighton. As we de-sand our toes, stay tuned later on for a full report! This week, all eyes are on the weekends fairs, Cambridge and London; favourites in our vintage fair diary, make sure you get your gladrags on for both events always draw in a rather stylish crowd...

Ooh. Fancy!

See you there vintage fans!

xVVx
www.vintagefair.co.uk

Oh we do like to be beside the seaide...

2011-05-13T18:17:00.008+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

A mere 24 hours before Brighton's Affordable Vintage Spectacular, we wanted to give you a little visual treat of what to expect on the day. Roll film!

Dolls courtesy of International Quality Kitsch

Case courtesy of Scavengers

Furniture from Daisy Bazaar

Cakes courtesy of The Old Tea Party

Ducks courtesy of Retropolitan

Oh we do love to be beside the seaside and we hope that you do to. See you Sunday vintage fans!

xVVx

All the Fun of the Fair: Kingston

2011-05-10T15:10:00.013+01:00

It goes without saying that everybody loves novelty. The prospect of something new is enough to get most of us giddy [heck, the thought of a new TOWIE or an untouched charity shop is enough to give me palpitations!] Imagine then, not the thrill of an untapped shop, but an untapped TOWN! Enter Kingston's Affordable Vintage Fair....

With the rails ready to go, we loved this traders' mix of frocks and brogues - hanging from the rafters, garments with sweet prints and candy-floss colours were enough to make even Katy Perry seem savoury...

For long days and even longer nights, sunnies are a staple. Away from the highstreet, many were opting for vintage specs to see them through. A fan of the Lennon look, rounded frames were a personal favourite [even though they're more Harry Potter than Rock n' Roll when sat on my face.] Vintage bikinis were a big-hit with retro beach-goers wanting to look the part.

Adding to the summer time 'vibe,' Now Voyager were on hand with some colourful numbers that were heads above the rest. [oversized orchids, birds of paradise and tiny yaughts to name-drop a few]

We loved this uber-opulent gown [defintiely Met Gala worthy - if only we could fly in Mrs Obama or Ri-Ri before they hit the red carpet, how smashing they would look!] Everyone loves fluidity in their threads and this dress was moving in every way.

Finally we loved this incredibly bright jumpsuit, reminiscent of Kim Cattrall as a loved-up living doll in 'Mannequin.'' Leggy, edgy and exceptionally eighties - love it!

Tune in later in the week to see steals from North and a wee preview as Judy's takes a trip to the seaside!

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Here's JUDY!

2011-05-06T11:07:00.009+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

[Rather unbelievably] a week since we were draped in Union Jacks and going mad for Middleton, we at Judy HQ are packing our banners and finding our bearings for, once more, we are hitting the road!

A myriad of different dates in the mix, check out our fanpage for the full lowdown [and prepare to graffiti those datebooks rather voraciously with the words 'VINTAGE FAIR!!!'] In the next few weeks we have newbie Kingston, Glasgow, Newcastle, the Leeds Kilo Sale and our biggest event yet on the sunny shores of Brighton [75 stalls + incredible mid-century bargains courtesy of The Vintage Furniture Flea + DJs and cake = a complete no-brainer!] For those of you not sure whether to venture out over the next few weekends or pondering whether to put down that library book, have a look at some of the wonderful stuff our traders will be offering up...

Tempting n'est pas? Bringing 40 traders to every event alongside pastry treats, style hunters and a bounty of bargains, the library or highstreet just doesn't cut it. Just like the seasons, Judy's is in bloom and we're heading to you. Drop what you're doing, head on down and emancipate your wardrobes with something old-world.

See you imminently vintage fans - it's lovely to be back!

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

The Leonard Street Royal Wedding Party

2011-04-30T22:04:00.004+01:00

The Vintage Bride..

2011-04-27T18:25:00.009+01:00

Can't quite put my finger on why I can't stop thinking of weddings!

Here's a lovely selection from our favourite Vintage boutique Tasty Vintage who will be selling at our Harewood House Royal wedding party near Leeds, Yorkshire this Friday from 10am.

1920s chiffon and crepe vintage wedding dress

1930s handfinished silk wedding dress

1940s illusion bodice wedding dress

1940s simple illusion neckline dress

1950s dotted Swiss wedding dress

1960s spiral button wedding dress

Cool Britannia!

2011-04-27T09:49:00.008+01:00

Loyal subjects!

It's Thursday 28th April and those adorable little pups above are symbolic of one thing. Yes, yes, you're probably tired of it to [having to alternate flag-swinging hands every hour or so really takes it out of you] but heck, a mere 24 hours before 'the big day,' how can you NOT be a little excited?!

Granted, if you're looking for some sort of anti-Windsor stick in the mud, you probably shouldn't read this blog; as an individual who enjoys bank holidays, mugs with mugshots and 'Don't tell the Bride,' it's like all of my holidays have come at once. Second only to Geri Haliwell [who, from her outfit below, has been pre-empting the wedding since circa '97] we've had this day in our datebooks for a while now and we'll be marking it with a rather high-brow event at Harewood House, alongside a slightly more, er, urban event on London's Leonard Street [cocktail bar, tug of war, vintage marketplace - in that order.] If you're in Yorkshire or the Big Smoke, come give us a wave [royally, of course.]

Granted, even if regal nuptials aren't your bag, you've got to love the spoofs! In addition to T-Mobiles latest creation [featuring THE most convincing Camilla looky-like in existence and proving that our Lizzie looks good on the dancefloor!] we've seen some spoofs that are more Essex than Eton. Tower blocks, scrambled eggs, Middleton-come-early-Lily Allen - check it here.

Happy Bank Holiday one and all! I'm going to chow down on a vol au vent and blow things up, all in the name of the nation!

VVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Well worth the weight: London's Vintage Kilo Sale

2011-04-20T14:23:00.018+01:00

Greetings Vintage Fans,

Cor, it feels like an age since we last conversed! Putting that right, we're back in the world of all things blogger to tell you of festival fever, South Bank madness and all things fair. Kicking things off, let's go KILO!

Late April is a funny time of year in these British Isles. With the weather hotting up, that already bumpy transition from bed to wardrobe to work [or uni] adds an extra hump. Distrusting of the sunny weather [and naturally so when one maverick cloud can leave you sodden in flip flops and looking like a tool] we often turn to last season's wardrobe to see us through. Shorts with Christmas jumpers, sandals with shearling - typical symptoms of the fickle British weather. And so, on Saturday April 16th, a good lot of you Londoners decided to do something about it. No longer should you perspire until payday - to the Rag Factory it was!

For those of you unawares, the concept behind The Vintage Kilo Sale is a winning one; working with Glass Onion, the UK's largest wholesaler, 2.5 tonnes of lovely vintage stuff wings it's way around the country whilst shoppers wait to bag it up. At £15 a kilo, it's the ideal way for anyone strapped for cash and exasperated with their inter-season wardrobe to feel, well, human [and room temperature] again.

In addition to bagging-up new threads, the Kilo's a dangerous place for your inner magpie. Featuring wholesale jewelry starting from £1, many found themselves glued to the stalls, a ring on each finger with more bling than Blazing Squad. A notion skyrocketing in popularity, the room of reworked also caught the eye of the masses, with more than a few of you jonesing for leather shorts [impermeable + pins out = 1 - 0 to the sensible, summer-hungry shopper!]

With Brick Lane a hair's breadth away, it goes without saying that our shoppers were dressed pretty snappily; cream capes, retro lettermen and fluoro trousers all popped up on the radar.

With our eyes very much on the prize, it was nice to see certain micro-trends in bloom, none more interesting than what we've dubbed the 'uber loose' [stay with us dear readers, this is not the latest single by Ri-Ri but a rather interesting style...] Check it out below...

Since the dawn of time, fashion boffins have drilled in the dangers of 'too baggy an outfit;' when prehistoric woman looked at her wardrobe, she never opted for an oversize pterodactyl two-piece, but rather mixed it up -a fitted mammoth top here, a cropped loincloth there. Even when Moses came down from the mountain, that mystery thirteenth commandment [found in the draft] would forbid every good Israelite from looking like a potato-sack.

Strangely, the maxim of mixing baggy and tight seems to have, well , loosened up of late. With hemlines lengthening and maxis bigger than ever, some could call the above outfit 'half-right.' After careful consideration and a lot of mulling over at Judy HQ, we think it's 100% darling; showing flashes of skin in unexpected places like under the arm or exposing wrists, an outfit that's centred around comfort can easily be cool. That said, who actually cares what the boffins say - vintage is all about DIY, with no decade or style trumping another.

At £15 a pop, the Vintage Kilo Sale is ideal for a spot of DIY time-travel. Rolling up to Leeds on Saturday May 14th, it's well worth the weight.

That's it for this weeks kids - tune in next week when we examine Middleton madness and look at a few of our favourite couples from times gone by [exciting!!]

Happy Easter!

VV out x

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Summer Lovin'

2011-04-08T11:47:00.006+01:00

Greetings loved ones.

The sun is shining and the pins are out like we're in the Pacific. Here at a sun-kissed Judy HQ, this only means one thing...

Not just Kingston but a WHOLE HOST of Summer Fairs!

Newbies at Chester and Leamington Spa, a return to Newcastle and Bethnal Green and a jaunt across the border to Glasgow. Add to that a return to the iconic shores of Brighton for our Summer Vintage Spectacular [enormous vintage fair + furniture flea + music + tea party = good times] and we're onto a Summer unlike no other!

Maxis, cycling in the sun, loafers with no socks and getting Mr Whippy all down your frocks - a very British season!

Keep your eyes on our Facebook page for the scoop vintage fans. Now get out there and bag a tan!

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Britton's Got Talent: York

2011-04-06T14:32:00.000+01:00

Hey, hey, vintage lovers! At our York fair the other week we were spoilt for choice with all the amazing vintage items on offer. The Hospitium was literally crammed to the rafters full of vintage delights, including lots of homewares to keep Britton happy!

These precious hand knitted tea cosies were first on my radar, everyone could do with a flower adorned tea pot and these beauties can be made in any colour to order by Karen, the brains behind Rosy Lea.

Next to catch my eye were these bedspreads. York was all about the spring florals, I was getting all shabby chic just looking at them.

This coffee set was snapped up soon after I took this photo, I'm not surprised, how anyone could resist the owls and the 70's colour way is beyond me. Totally unique and a nice price too at £20. I'll leave you with our favourite cupcakes from The Marvellous Tea Dance Company to drool over, the perfect accompaniment to coffee sipped from an owl cup, twit twit ter woo...

Over and out,

BGT x

Joan on the Road

2011-04-02T12:29:00.008+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

As the sun peeps out, everyone's favourite plastic mascot has been out on the town, finding out what makes Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair tick. Here's what she got up to at York's Hospitium....

'Joan on the Scone' [this pun completely depends on pronunciation. Soz!]

'China doll...'

'Whoever said that vertical stripes weren't flattering...'

'Joan gives other vintage fairs the boot.'

Oh Joan! What WILL you do next?! Tune in next week for more stories from the road!

'Life in plastic, it's fantastic!'

JotR x

The Vintage Furniture Flea: London gets the Itch

2011-03-29T12:45:00.008+01:00

Greetings loved ones,

For some, Sunday March 27th was a day like every other. For those in and around London's York Hall, it was not.

It was around 7am. Commuting from the four corners, vintage pilgrims in vans and transits descended on early-morning Bethnal Green with bags under their arms and bags under their eyes. Unloading in the early morning light, husbands and wives, good friends and work mates to-me-to-you'd big,burly boxes and objects indoors, casting shadows all over Old Ford Road. Setting up shop and swapping hellos with fellow traders and neighbours, these early-morning soldiers were here for one thing; The Vintage Furniture Flea.

An event not even a year old, The Vintage Furniture Flea is the younger sibling of Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair, the nation's largest vintage marketplace. Coming from that lineage, one automatically expects great things -affordability, eccentricity, an event not so niche as to exclude but not so open as to be flavourless. With its November debut being heralded by the likes of Time Out and BBC Homes and Antiques, the Flea's sophomore event had a lot to live up to; gone was the element of novelty and in its place, an audience waiting with bated breath. Opening it's doors to the 'earlybird' public at 11am, it was crunch time.

To wander around the Vintage Furniture Flea is to lose yourself; gone are the right angles and clean lines that are the staple of modern retail. Instead of standing stacked in plastic and cardboard at the end of a concourse, mid-century furnshings refuse, rebel; whole sets of china, lighting, magazines and furniture are placed together as if to say 'here I am, just as I ever was.' Wandering around the Furniture Flea, one instantaneously gets the vibe that these lounges and living rooms were so much more 'living' then their modern-day counterparts. Marketed as an 'antidote to flatpack,' founder Judy Berger's passion for furnishings from the fifties and onwards is reflected in the G-Plan tables, the European glassware, the lens of a Diana camera in the hands of a curious stranger. With pricing openly the most affordable in the game, how did we ever get so stifled in the way we decorate?

To observe the 2,000 strong crowd throughout the day was to see a plethora of emotions; young couples and students came, searching for the kitsch and the affordable, the perfect object to spark up conversation with an envious housemate or neighbour. As with any event catering for a particular taste, the collectors flocked, tipping-up cups in the search for a certain signature or mark to make their hearts jump. Perhaps the most interesting group to any vintage voyeur is that of the family; generations bonded over an afternoon out, mums and dads move through the living rooms of their childhood, every cut of glass, every colour of a curtain a memory. Whilst their kids run around York Hall like an alien territory, grandparents pull out chairs and plunge down, uttering 'they don't make them like they used to.'

Way beyond the thrill of simple bargain hunting, there is a sense of reverance that permeates The Vintage Furniture Flea. Away from the forced awe and floor plans of Ikea and similarly, the sense of forced appreciation in many popular tourist attractions [I'm not saying Ikea is like the Colusseum but hey, both do share a sense of forced head-turning, a 'look at this now'] there are no lino arrows or 'You're Here' signs in the Vintage Furniture Flea; just like Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair, every event is what you make of it, every stall is a call to memory, to personality and that's the beauty of it.

Editor of W Magazine Stefano Tonchi wrote that during a dinner with Marc Jacobs, he asked the designer who is both accused of "setting more trends than almost everyone whilst incessantly referencing" what qualifies as new? Jacobs quite simply replied that "anything can be new, anything can be given a fresh, new context." In the Spring light of York Hall, these objects are made new again. If we agree with Tonchi that "obsession with the new is like a drug," give me rehab [Flea-hab] any day.

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Joan on the Road

2011-03-22T13:20:00.012Z

Greetings vintage fans and welcome to our new weekly section, Joan on the Road. Everyone's favourite plastic paparazzo, Joan's been out and about finding out what makes Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair tick. First up, Cambridge and Southampton - she's absolutely MAD for it...

'Joan was always on the cover of the fifties magazines...'

'The cat that got the cream at The Old Tea Party'

'Another bargain clocked as the fair progresses'

'Joan held the keys to many mens hearts...'

'Three cupcakes in, Joan thought 'to hell with my figure!'

Tune in next week for more folks.

Life in plastic, it's fantastic!

xJotRx

A Birds-Eye View with Vintage Vulture

2011-03-21T22:16:00.009Z

Greetings loved ones,

How do? We hope that you've been donning your once-dusty favourite playsuits, shorts and summer dresses and exposing those pins to a bit of pre-spring sun [we're still looking a little translucent but another few weeks and we'll be on our way from pasty to perfect - hooray!]

It's full steam ahead at Judy HQ this week, with everyone on the team looking ahead to a double whammy weekend of Oxford and, of course, The Vintage Furniture Flea. Those heading over to the Flea on Sunday [which is all of you, RIGHT?] will not be disappointed; we don't know where our traders have found their stock [honestly, it's like they've hijacked a Tardis or something!] but you're in for a treat. Looky here...

Glorious n'est pas? If you needed one more reason to cement a Sunday peruse of York Hall firmly in mind, a spot of afternoon razzle dazzle should do it; Soho chaunteuses 'The Belinis' [alongside their talented band] will be providing the afternoon's entertainment via a series toe-tapping numbers from 2:30pm. The notion of afternoon jazz may conjur up images of Howard Moon, elbow patches and way too much sax but these folks are nothing but cool; performing modern-day hits with a glamorous twist, check them here...

Britney Spears to a double base? HELLO!

If that wasn't enough to get you in the Judy mood, we've got our glorious return to Oxford [huzzah!] With every fair we do in the Shire soaring up and up, we really don't know what to expect! In that vain, perhaps our decision to book a TOWN CRIER [yes, you head correct] may have been a mistake [NB: hiring a town crier is NEVER a mistake] Patrolling the streets of Oxford on Friday and Saturday, look out for our man heralding the arrival of Judy's in perfect style. No facebook invites, no BBIMs, just one man, one bell and a whole lot of warbling!

'Hear ye, Hear ye, Judy's vintage fair cometh!'

See ye there vintage fans,

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Britton's Got Talent: Cambridge and Southampton

2011-03-18T14:27:00.001Z

Dresses, dresses, dresses, were the only things on our minds in Cambridge and Southampton last weekend. Judy and I couldn't get enough and there were so many on offer for us to sift through. The Judy's crew make no secret of the fact we all have a penchant for dresses(not sure about Keiran?!) and we were not left disappointed.

At Cambridge I picked out two extra special dresses for the summertime! The first was this delicate flocked number. £85 from Mothball Vintage.

I was doing my best Florence Welch impression in this beaut... LOOK AT THE BACK... £55 and worth every penny.

Southampton was abundant with bargains. This dress had it all, peter pan collar, check, polka dots, check and a velvet bow, perfect, non? And only £20, fantastic!

Another lovely Laura Ashley dress from Little Red Retro a complete steal at £10.

Lastly not a dress but cute nonetheless, a floral cord romper perfect for the up coming festival season with little tie details on the pockets. Also from Little Red Retro £20.

Here at Judy's HQ we all have our fingers crossed for a beautiful, sunny, spring like day for our York Fair on Sunday. I'll be on the hunt for some home wares and a little menswear to keep all you gents happy! Come and join us for a veritable feast of vintage and afternoon tea courtesy of The Marvelous Tea Dance Company. What a way to spend a Sunday!

Over and out.

BGT x

A Birds-Eye View with Vintage Vulture

2011-03-16T11:55:00.012Z

Greetings loved ones,

It's that time of the week again to give you our retro overview of all things old-world.

First up, a wee word about last weekend's fairs - Cambridge and Southampton. Our first Cambridge fair of 2011, we were super-psyched to head to the Guild Hall for a bit of a jolly. Alas, there really is no rest for the wicked as a whopping 2000 of you wandered in throughout the day [i say wandered, read: crowd-surfed] for a gander [if you were there, do comment below - we love looking at other people's goodies!] Add to this our debut fair in Southampton on Sunday, [once again, incessant] and there we have the formula to a winning weekend! Everyone's favourite plastic paparazzo will be going into it tomorrow but lordy folks, weren't you stylish! Here's my favourite outfit from the Guild Hall...

Statement tights, florals and everyone's fave mute mongrel on a tee- winner!

Here at Judy HQ, there's an air of excitement; not only are we returning to the Yorkshire triangle [my second favourite triangle after dairylea] of York, Sheffield and Leeds within the next few weeks, but we've announced a new one for the datebooks, Leamington Spa! Coming to the stunning Assembly on Saturday June 4th, our Leamington event may seem far away but trust us - it isn't. You'll be too hot, tanned and dying to get shopping before you know it. In other news, here's another thing we're all anticipating....

Yes! It's here! Tickets for Mr Hemingway's 'Vintage London' festival are on sale today! All the goodness of 'Vintage at Goodwood' in an urban environment - we can't wait! Curating the marketplace once more, we at Judy's are responsible for the traders spanning the length of the Thames ['crums!' you must be thinking, 'that's a lot of work!'] Yes dear reader, we love a challenge and with a good 750,000 folk set to descend on the marketplace, we're more than excited. That said, the real challenge lies in what on God's green earth are we to wear?! Toying at the moment with gentry-worthy tweeds, 90's prints and a certain rolling desire to channel Prince [those hours spent googling high-waisted jeans will never be returned!] the jury is out on my Southbank look. If you see anyone on the Thames resembling 'Fresh Prince Charles,' it's likely to be me.

In prep for London and the great British springtime in general, Judy took some time out from our Southampton and Cambridge events to do what she does best...shop! Here's a little snapshot of the boss' best bits [er...wait, rephrase that...]

Lace bow dress, £20, The Bivol Trust - Southampton's Affordable Vintage Fair

Wicker bag, £15, Style and the City - Southampton's Affordable Vintage Fair

Beaded dress, £60, Memoir Vintage, Cambridge Affordable Vintage Fair

Finally, an item snapped up for a fiver for any globetrotter worth their salt...

Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair - keeping you looking a million bucks.

That's all for today folks - stay posted for Joan on the Road and Britton's got talent!

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

Britton's Got Talent: Edinburgh and St Andrew's

2011-03-11T12:07:00.001Z

Hello and welcome to my nouveau weekly feature here on the Judy's blog. I'm fair manager Britton and my mission, should I choose to accept it (which of course I do!) is to scour this Great British vintage-loving Nation for the best vintage finds available at Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair. The scavenger hunt kicked off last weekend at our Edinburgh and St Andrew's fairs. Here's the talent that was on offer...

First off this perfectly prim original 50's black velvet dress with peter pan collar courtesy of Glamour Bunny a snip at £35, both Joan and I were totally smitten.

My brogues are set to get a little ribbon treatment after I spotted these beauts at Edinburgh and the shoes didn't stop there, look at this pair of canvas flats complete with embroidered flowers... too cute! Both pairs were just £25.

Next I spied the perfect addition to every outfit, delicate little lace peter pan collar necklaces from Little Winter.

At St Andrew's I fell in love with this Laura Ashley blazer. Re-worked by the lovely ladies at Vi Nouveau, their additions of bows and braid trims made it irresistible!

The search continues this weekend. I'll be on the look out for more treats at our Cambridge and Southampton fairs.

Over and out.

BGT x

'Through the looking glass[onion]' - A Vintage Field Trip!

2011-03-10T10:56:00.015Z

Greetings loved ones,

This week, we packed our bags and anoraks for our first-ever Affordable Vintage Fair field trip! Single file, we piled onto the Judy mobile to take a trip to deepest, darkest Barnsley to take a peek around one of the UK's biggest Vintage Wholesaler, Glass Onion.

For those of you who have attended one of our Vintage Kilo Sales in Leeds and London, Glass Onion are the folks behind the 2.5 tonnes of lovely vintage clothing that wings itself up and down the country to every event. With more and more small-fry Kilo copycats springing up every week, we decided to take a trip to the source of all things vintage to see what makes our supplier the top...

Entering the humongous Barnsley warehouse, both Bookings Manager Sam and myself felt a little guilty. Off the beaten track, it was rare that individual vintage fans such as ourselves were allowed in to peruse. Contracted to businesses at both ends of the scale, Glass Onion is no place for the solo vintage fan, bowing before this retro Mecca. Don't believe me? Take a look at the image below, a little snapshot we took on the way in later labelled 'delivery day...'

Evidently, your average vintage fan doesn't have a spare fork-lift truck to hand to cart their goods [possible investment?] At least, dear reader, you can see the sheer scale of what it is we're talking about - bags and bags of mixed vintage bits ample enough to make an old-school, textile Taj Mahal [with an addequate amount of forklift trucks of course]

Moving on and trembling at the knees a little bit, we had a lovely chat with all the folk working in the warehouse. Guiding our tour, Claire [pictured below] took us around the rooms, literally filled to the brim with stock. Taking us into the smaller businesses section, we saw where traders came to handpick their stock. Ranging from corduroy to scuba ware, picasso shirts to parkas, literally all tastes were catered for. Here's what we got up to...

Having a good root around, we soon started to pile together a vintage hitlist of all the bits that we had to have. Indulging my penchant for the 80s, i opted for incredible purple print, elastic-cuffed jogging bottoms [perfect for festivals] and ever a child of the 90s, Sam went for a festive 'smiley face' vest...

Unfortunately, our wonderful bits had been bagged-up and paid for by other traders and so, honouring the wholesale code, we popped them back.

Taking things all the way to the top, we had a lovely chat with head-honcho John on the ethos behind his wholesale enterprise. Passing everything from boxes of old-school umbrellas to bowties, it was evident that his tastes were eclectic. Unlike many wholesalers, Glass Onions forte comes in the fact that they're hoarders. 'Everything was made for a purpose,' John says, noting that even the most obscure of garments was made for a reason: to be fashionable. No matter how niche some of the items at Glass Onion may seem [a danger when you stock literally EVERYTHING under the sun] all garments will have their time as the trend wheel ticks on...

Bleary-eyed and dreaming of tracksuits, I began to ponder on the way home on what a good deal the Vintage Kilo Sale provides. Doing away with wholesale law, people like John and Judy are mavericks in letting Jonny [and Jane] vintage fan come fill a bag and pay the same cut price as a big-wig business. I know i'll definitely be at the front of the queue on May 14th [April 16th for London] bag in hand, waiting to play trader.

That's all folks - love from the backseat[wait...that sounds wrong]

xVVx
www.vintagefair.co.uk

A Birds-Eye View with Vintage Vulture

2011-03-08T10:20:00.010Z

Greetings loved ones! As you can see, we here at the Style Blog have undergone a bit of a metamorphosis! Gone are the standard fonts and titles that now seem so inferior and out of our spring cocoon, comes shiny new headers plastering your page! On three dear readers, 1, 2, 3..."oohhhh, ahhhh!" Broken down into weekly segments, the Style blog brings to you our new regular features - Fair Manager Sarah Britton hunting through each weekly event to showcase her favourite finds in the aptly named 'Britton's got Talent'[Mega-LOL!], cool-hunting with our favourite plastic-paparazzo Joan in 'Joan on the Road,' wisdom, pearls and personal tales in 'Traders Top Tips' alongside regular guest reviews in 'All the Fun of the Fair.' Sheesh - a lot to take in huh? Without further ado, i come to my own section, a veritable look-down from the crows nest of the Good Ship Vintage on what's to come this week and what's got us spitting feathers. In true Paddy fashion, let the bird see the worm!

Up first, a wee word about Scotland last weekend. Edinburgh - hello! - over 1000 of you pouring through the door on Saturday! We've had words from you and our traders who were literally gushing like a vintage Vesuvius [eurgh - graphic!] over what a good show it was! Thanks a bunch! Add to this our debut up at St Andrews, we're talking over 2000 Scottish vintage fans in a weekender. Loco! For a blow by blow account, check out the wonderful account by Tribe journalist and fash/tourism writer Rosie Steer - http://everythinglooksrosie.wordpress.com/. Here's a little somethin' somethin' she picked up at the fair...

PRETTY tempting for all of you coming to Cambridge and nouveau fair, Southampton this weekend huh? With 1500 confirmed to come to Cambridge, we're a bit worried that we might have to crack out the hi-vis vests [S/S 11s must-have accessory!] Still, with items such as this lovely floral number up for grabs by Memoir Vintage [and only £20!] we'll see you in the queue....

Moving away from filling up wardrobes to, er, the objects themselves, images are coming in thick and fast for London's Vintage Furniture Flea on Sunday March 27th. Not really one for furnishings myself [often if i can't wear it, i don't want it] i was surprised to find myself salivating over these ridiculous vintage alarm clocks at a mere £15 per ticker [courtesy of Jane and Nick Reed]. We here at Judy HQ are still pondering the map thinking of where to take the flea next - if you're gagging for G-plan and think your city needs a Flea, give us a shout below.

Finally, something a little off the vintage topic but still within the vintage-inspired fashion field [VIFF for short - if we were a ven diagram, we'd definitely be overlapping] Like him or lump him, former Dior man John Galliano has ruffled more Parisian feathers than the dancers of the Moulin Rouge in an evening's work. Whatever your opinion of 'Galliano gate' [i'm keeping schtum on this one] one cannot help but admire his unwillingly final collection for Dior A/W. Here are two of my faves...

Perhaps it was the grimaces and the striking make-up of the models [maybe it's just the fur] but there was certainly an air if infamy to his collection. His women putting me in mind of Bond villains, of femmes fatales, of the spectral Nicole Kidman as Mrs Coulter, the manipulative matriarch who haunts the dreams of any child reading Pullman's Northern Lights series, a sense of villainy in his collection seemed to exist before it all kicked off. Whatever you make of the debaucle, the collection does what every good antagonist does - get's you talking. Perhaps we'll see a lot more fair-goers channelling their inner-villains come Autumn!

That's all for this week folks - keep your eyes peeled for our new features and a little blogpost about our first vintage field trip to the uk's biggest wholesaler, Glass Onion [more on that tomorrow!]

Love from above,

xVVx

www.vintagefair.co.uk

All the fun of the Fair - Bethnal Green

2011-03-02T14:28:00.021Z

Greetings loved ones!

In the spirit of sharing the love [c'mon, it's practically summer maan!] we here at Judy HQ have recruited London wordsmith Mia Lane from usedandabusedvintage.com to give you the skinny on our Bethnal Green event on Sunday previous....

'I have a confession to make. It's a bit controversial coming from a sometime vintage fashion blogger and london city dweller. You might want to sit down and prepare to be shocked to your vintage girdle...

For the past year or so, i've been completely disillusioned with vintage shopping in the capital. I've been obsessed with vintage since my early teens but lately have been spending more time in Topshop and less time trawling through boxes of lovely, musty vintage. Before moving to the Big Smoke, I used to really look forward to trips to Brick Lane to buy up bagfuls of vintage goodies but lately, the shops just aren't cutting it for me. I guess it's only natural - there's a limited amount of stock in the world and as more and more of us fall in love with old fashioned fashion,there are less gems to be found and more tat padding out the rapidly- emptying rails of our favourite vintage stores.

Adding insult to injury, take the number of disappointing vintage events I've been to in the capital - kilo sales where you can fill a bag with holey crap for £50, overpriced designer vintage fairs where you're afraid to breathe near the clothes in case you cause irreparable damage and have to pay £500 and clothing swaps where vintage isn't found. I have to admit I've become a little bit sceptical about the whole scene.

Do I sound bitter? Well, it's not all doom and gloom. I still love to stock up on vintage whenever I'm outside of London. You get a better class of clothing for a smaller price, plus you get to feel smug when people ask where your latest find is from. 'Oh this? it's just something i picked up in blackpool at the weekend...' Way cooler than 'yeah it's from Beyond Retro.'

Anyway the point that i'm getting to (in a horribly long-winded way) is that today I had a lovely surprise in the form of Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair.

The travelling fashion spectacle arrived in Bethnal Green's York Hall this weekend, and it couldn't have been more perfect. What sets this apart from other vintage events? Firstly, the traders at the fair come from all over the UK, not just London, so you get more variety, a better class of vintage, and most importantly lots of bargains. Bonus point - it's a touring event so sure to be landing in a city near you very soon. [have a butchers here folks]

Always keen to impress (do other people dress up to go shopping or is it just me?) I put on one of my favourite 1960s mini dresses and set off to meet my friend Christina (you can read about her adventures here). Here she is wearing a lovely stole she picked up at the fair.

York Hall was filled to the brim with gorgeous items - all great quality vintage and accessories, and all very reasonably priced. I could barely contain my excitement.

I was particularly taken with the super-cute accessories on Now, Voyager's stall. The colours make my eyes bleed! I love it all!

I left with a new birdy friend. His name is Arthur. I'm not sure what occasion will befit me wearing a bird head adornment, but rest assured, i will find one.

Naturally I was also taken with this...

All events should have tea and cake, ALWAYS. (Christina described her cake as tasting like a granny had made it. This is a GOOD thing.)

OK so I know you're DESPERATE to see what I left with. Here's my little haul:

Everything cost around £10 and it's all in great nick. I'm thrilled, thanks Judy!

I found this lovely hooded camel coat...

This cute crocheted cape (two thumbs up)...

This lovely little pinafore dress (LBD FTW)...

My absolute favourite find - these ace velvet shorts...

This cute cut-off leather skirt..

This super-psychedelic flower power blouse (shiny happy face)...

This lizard top / mini dress is Mr Used and Abused's favourite 'because it's weird'...

And a couple of lovely scarves too...

The next event's in May and I will be there with bells on. Judy, I salute you.

Mia xxx

Disenchanted vintage fan reinstated with retro faith [try saying that fast]? CHECK! Velvet shorts, bags of goodies, reptile-adorned shoulder pads - Scottish folk, we hope you're foaming at the mouth for Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Affordable Vintage Fairs this weekend.

Sigh - What a lovely review. Inundated by bloggers who volunteer on a weekly basis to showcase our events, we're not only seeing how 'radical' [under-used 90s adjective? 5 points!] the fairs are, but the amount of talent out there. Having so many people [like Mia] come through who write with such joy got me thinking about the definition of a 'good event...'

With queues snaking through the door, there was no doubt that Bethnal Green was a hit; exhausted traders and 2600 on the clicker by the end of the day, nobody could argue with that. Yet having complete randoms, [albeit lovely] strangers dying to take time out of their day to write about what your fair means to them? The proof may be in the pudding in terms of clickers and figures, but this is the sweetest reward of all.

A happy and humbled Vintage Vulture out, vintage kids!

xVVx