Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside...

All of this beautiful sunny weather we have been having these past few days has been making me dream of being by the sea...

[original postcards from Italy, circa 1940]

Crocodile Tears

I bought this crocodile detail handbag/clutch in a charity shop a few days ago...I had been in the day before, seen it, thought about it, then went back to get it. The lady who served me at the till commented that she was the one who had put it out on the shelf, and had wondered if anyone would actually buy it. She obviously wasn't sure either! But now I love it. It seems strangely familiar; Perhaps I saw it in a shop before (although the make isn't anything familiar) or saw it on someone else, or owned it in a previous life (in which case it's only right that it has been returned to me...!).

Winter Warmer (!)

I love foraging for second hand clothing in charity shops and vintage shops (there’s nothing quite like the possibility of stumbling across something amazing, and the thrill when you do!) and buying second hand clothing and vintage over new is also much better for the environment. Additionally, when purchasing something from a charity shop you are also helping a good cause!


Whilst strolling around enjoying the sunshine in Bristol on Wednesday, I stumbled across a very newly opened new vintage shop on Corn Street, called ‘Top Deck’. They had only been open a couple of days, and were still getting set up, however the space that they had was good and there is plenty of potential there. Setting up a vintage clothing shop is something that a lot of people I know would dream of doing, and these guys have gone ahead and done it, so good for them!! Ironically, considering the soaring temperatures of Wednesday afternoon, I purchased a knitted cardigan, that has made me dream of cold days and log fires! However, knowing the British summer, I’m sure I will have the opportunity to throw it over a little dress on the more Baltic of evenings...


I found their website, however it doesn’t currently have much on it, however I’m sure it’s a case of watch this space to see how they progress.

Other good vintage shops in Bristol (for those unfamiliar with the area) are RePsycho on Gloucester Road (the owner of which I recently had the fortune of meeting and chatting to about the clothes and his ideas on current trends) or Uncle Sam’s on Park Street, which specialises in American vintage clothing.

Philosophy & Ethics

Ethical and organic clothing often has a stigma of being sightly uncool, bought from a shop smelling of incense selling gap-year traveller type trousers (which, although not always being a bad thing, there is certainly a time and place for...!). However, to bring ethical and organic more to the forefront, ASOS have launched an interesting and informative section on their site called The Green Room, which is dedicated to 'collections with a story to tell'. More here.

One of the brands available on ASOS is 'People Tree', with whom Emma Watson recently collaborated, to produce a 'young' collection. More information available here.

And finally, on the more luxe end of the scale, Bono and his wife Ali Hewson founded an ethical brand called 'Edun', which has recently been given a styling and business overhaul and become part of the LVMH  group - images above are taken from their lookbook which can be seen here!

Flower power

   

Inspired by the treasure to be found online on the Oxfam website, I skipped down to my local shop to see what they had to offer. I left with this dress, and it had its first outing this weekend. 

There is a fine line between wearing a beautiful summery flowery fabric, and looking like you've thrown on a pair of curtains. I'm hoping I was the right side of that line...!

Oxfam VINTAGE available online

Whilst browsing Oxfam's website I stumbled across their online store, and more specifically their online vintage store, where clothes are organised by decade. There are thousands of pieces on there, but here are a couple that caught my eye...

Peruse the virtual rails yourself here .