We are always told that a mixture of high street and vintage is the hottest look around. Now, as prices spiral, the passion for vintage fashion has become a trend in itself.
If you study pictures of the latest red carpet looks, you'll soon find that the best-dressed stars are usually those with a vintage twist to their outfit. They're among a growing breed that are regularly asking their stylists to source 'something old and original' - rather than opting for the latest designer pieces.
It's not just its unique nature that makes vintage so desirable. In more ethical times such as these, there's something very fashionable about recycling - many trendy vintage boutiques have seen prices of vintage clothing inflate rapidly because of this.
Fortunately, many celebrity stylists and fashionistas still know where to source some fabulous vintage pieces at a mere snippet of the cost - the vintage fashion fair.
So, on Sunday I trotted along to the eagerly awaited vintage fashion fair Frock me! held at the Sallis Benney Theatre situated on Grand Parade, to have a good old rummage and to see if I could bag myself a bargain. Vintage fashion fairs are not just about finding something unique or picking up a bargain at a fraction of the cost you'd expect to pay for it, the best thing about vintage fairs like this is the fun you can have. Like a giant dressing up-box, browsing, trying on the pieces and breezing from stall to stall with arms full of beautiful garments, all adds the charm of being a vintage shopper.
Here, for an entrance fee of £3, you can pick up this summer's key tote or a pair of red and gold leather Gina court shoes for just £55.
I also spied the festival go-er’s must-have maxi-dress for a lot less than £50, much more affordable than the Topshop version and with the added bonus of never turning up somewhere wearing the same thing as someone else.
All the items span across 1800s to the 1980s and while vintage designer labels such as original Pucci, YSL, Chanel and Gina will always be the ones to dig around for, it’s worth keeping an eye out for the ‘unknown’ labels too.
I suppose many people would call these pieces second-hand, but if you know what's fashionable and what the season’s key trends are, you can revamp your wardrobe for a very reasonable price.
Not only that, vintage pieces inspire many of the forthcoming big name catwalk collections. So who knows? Maybe that pair of Gina shoes or Seventies dress I treated myself to will inspire the next Chanel or Vivienne Westwood collection… A few tips for buying vintage
- Do a bit of research and pick up pieces that reflect the new season's trends
- Things like Fifties tea dresses and evening gowns will never go out of fashion – invest in classics
- Go crazy with accessories – it’s a brilliant way to give your outfit a vintage twist without a complete image overhaul
- Remember that silks, wool and linen are worth the extra cash because they’ll last a lot longer than the cheaper fabrics
- Avoid any disappointment by trying everything on before you get home – vintage pieces tend to come up a lot smaller size-wise
If you missed Frock Me! in Brighton on the 3rd of May, there is one in London on the 17th and another in the Brighton diary on October 25th. Meanwhile you can visit www.frockmevintagefashion.com or the web links listed below for more information.
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