Calling all Bristol fashionistas! November 19, 2009

If you live in or around the Bristol area and love home-grown fashion, then you should get down to The Hamilton House Fashion Bazaar. This FREE event is organised by The Bristol FASH PACK – a group of Bristol based designers and independent shop owners including:  SHOP DUTTY/ SEW THAT JAZZ / OOMOOS ATTIC / MADIDAS HARISSA / AD HOC / PUCKOO COUTURE / HUNTING GOLD / BITCH& STITCH

It kicks off on Sunday December 6th from 1pm to 6pm in The Canteen at Hamilton House.

You can take part in a clothing swap, workshops, customisation stations and browse the stalls. There is also a fashion parade, auction and competitions, all to a great sound-track provided by local kick-ass DJs.

The event starts at 1pm, with the charity auction starting at 5pm. Auction items can be viewed all say in the Canteen.

All donations and a percentage of sales go to two charities: MALAWI EDUCATION PROJECT and CANCER RESEARCH.

Hope to see you there people!

Bananatastic! November 13, 2009

I’m a bit obsessed with tins so imagine my glee when I spotted these Andy Warhol Banana Candies  in this cute tin – you can get yours from The Lollipop Shoppe for £9.

Seven photo shoot – sneak peek November 11, 2009

 

Here are the first photos from last weekend’s photo shoot for Seven – a quirky little shop set up by design duo, Zena and Dom. The full feature will appear in Suit Yourself magazine after Christmas but I couldn’t wait until then to show these images. I did the hair and make-up – creating a funky retro rockabilly style for our lovely model Frankie. These wonderful pics were taken by ace photographer Elena – one to watch fo sho!

 

Frankie close-up

 

Rob outside Seven

 

 

Frankie and Rob – check out that light!

 

Frankie looking fierce!

 

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall…

 

Photos: Elena Goodrum

Styling: Zena Jones

Hair and make-up: Verity Gough

Models: Frankie and Rob

 

I want! November 6, 2009

Simple, stunning and classic, this ‘La Pera’ screenprint can be bought at The Lollipop Shoppe for a budget busting £165. Designed by Enzo Mari n 1963 for Danese Milano, Italy, it is certainly a stylish investment. See my other post on the wonderful world of illustration and graphic design.

Friday finds: Nude magazine November 6, 2009

Occasionally you come across one of those magazine that makes you drool, visually speaking, and for me the wonderful Nude Magzine does just that! The London-based mag covers counter-culture in all it’s craziness, from art and shopping to fashion and news. I think it’s great!

Secret shopping guide for seasoned stylistas November 1, 2009

Image found here

Ah, the scent of Christmas is palpable, windows are getting fogged up by the steam from hot chocolates and baked goods, and the thoughts of Christmas gatherings and present-giving are starting to make my brain go into shopaholic mode. But with the postal strikes causing no end of problems for the conventional means of sending pressies, you can always shop online (most online shops use couriers rather than Royal Mail.)

So I have been busy scanning some of the best online gift shops that you may not have come across. I would suggest you favourite/bookmark/delicious/stumble them for future reference:

A trip over to Cloth Ears is a must for vintage-fanciers – from bunting and cushions to fabrics and accessories galore. Old favourites like the Cath Kidston-esque polka dot fabrics to quirkier designs such as this lovely sail boats cushion or this classy Gladstone vintage inspired bag (£26.99) abound. Or, if like me, you are into the really glamorous old fashioned vintage look (but without the hefty price-tag, you could go for something like these gorgeous lace place mats found at designmyworld.net (£5.95)

Another great site to visit for such fripperies is Made in Design particularly because they stock one of my favourite designers, the unusual French design collective, Ibride.

The wonderful Diva table (below) , while is not vintage, is fast becoming a design classic, and is not for the ‘conventional of taste’ types, but I think it’s truly a thing of beauty! Ibride are also famous for their animalia style designs reported previously here on Vintage Verity.

For quirky gifts:

Notonthehighstreet.com is always worth a visit as you can browse by person, budget, item, whatever! A few of my pickings include this ‘Bonanza comic book decoupage chair’ for £275 – truly original! Or this ‘brekkie’ teatowel to brighten up the kitchen – a snip at a tenner

Finally, these quirky book-ends are fab – a great gift for bookworms with style (£27.95)

I’m a sucker for lines, so the main image on this post, the red, flocked chandelier has quickly made it onto my Christmas wish list – you can get one at DZD for £46.

So there you have it, a couple of ace new websites to check out – there are plenty more and i will keep adding them to the list as I collect them, so do pop back for updates, and if there is a site I could add to the list, leave a comment and I’ll check it out!

Happy huntin!’

Pretty things September 24, 2009

Apologies for my absence of late – a promotion is a fine thing but it keep one rather busy! Still I have sneaked in a quick post between hot chocolate and sleep to show y’all some lovely finds I have been collecting up for a moment such as this.

Take these funky watches – ok so £50 isn’t recession busting but they are so 80s. You can find one here.

Now you must have been living in a cave (with terrible wallpaper and artex) if you haven’t heard or seen this brilliant piece of organisational design.

Created by Dorothee Becker it comes in three different colours: white, black and red. It’s made out of plastic and is produced by Vitra Design Museum who has modelled this on the original 1969 version. I for one think it is a thing of beauty. £177 from The Lollipop Shoppe.

I love these paper boats and lanterns from KZuid in Amsterdam – if you ever get a chance to go – you have to visit this shop on Haarlemmer Straat! You won’t be disappointed.

 

 

elsie riley in print July 29, 2009

Well, our little shoot has been making the headlines – this time in Venue magazine. It’s great to see the images in print even though our other feature has not yet been published – Elsie Riley’s owner, Katie was so pleased with the pix that she is using then as her own promotional images now – praise indeed!

Glamping it up! July 28, 2009

Fancy getting away somewhere a bit off the beaten track but are so skint even the moths flying out of your purse are anorexic? Well I have been mugging up on some great cheap but oh so chic places to stay…prepare for some serious glamping!

 

Jolly Days Luxury Camping - Village Farm, Scrayingham, North Yorkshire, YO41 1JD – 01759 371776

 

 

Forget memories of mud, slugs and dewy sleeping bags,  at Jolly Days you can live like a fashionista and still channel a little bif of Darling Buds of May without looking like you have been dragged through a hedge backwards. Nestled in the picturesque surroundings of the Yorkshire countryside and only a stone’s throw from the city of York, choose a luxury tent with four poster bed or a charming bell tent. Everything has a vintage vibe from the Roberts radio to the home-made jams in the breakfast area – simply fabulous!

They also run some great special offers too  and you can stay for free if you are willing to pitch in and do some maintenance work about the campsite; from clearing brambles to putting up bird boxes – hard work never seemed like so much fun!

Prices start from £14.20 per person per night for lodge tents and £15.80 for Bell tents (check with website for seasonal price changes!)

 

 

La Rosa - Whitby, North Yorkshire  – 01947 606981 – info@larosa.co.uk

 

Nestled in amongst Yorkshire woodland, La Rosa caravan and camp site is great for retro lovers.  The beautiful red and white striped circus style marquee is a great spot for night-time get-togethers as are the open fire pits where you can sip spiced cider or mulled wine while free-style guitar playing is positively encouraged! Meals are also available on site too. Prices start from £28 per person per night including bedding, gas, candles and fire wood.

 

 

Vintage Vacations - Newport, Isle of Wight – 01874 676446 – anything@vintagevacations.co.uk

 

 

Ok, so if vintage is too tea cakes and treacle and you want more of a kitsche vibe, thenVintage Vacations  may be more your bag.  Located in a field on a working dairy farm on the Isle of Wight it’s only a 10 minute drive from Newport so you can still get your shopping fix. You can even choose your own quirky caravan and they are all American style beauties.

 

 

If you fancy something a bit more bricks and mortar, you can opt for The Bungalow, the Shack or The Mission – seriously stylish.

 

 

Prices for caravans start from £140 for weekend breaks and £325 for week-long stays, but check with the website for all pricing options. Oh and FYI, they also have a cool Etsy shop where you can snap up some excellent retro goodies…happy glamping!

Elsie Riley shoot – sneak preview July 3, 2009

Here are a few sneaky pix from last weekend’s photoshoot at Elsie Riley. We sweltered in the heat down in the basement and I feared the make-up I’d so carefully applied was going to melt off, but the models, Katrina and Rhea were just brilliant, helped of course by the excellent photographer of Elena Goodrum. I hope you enjoy them!

Above: Rhea models some vintage-inspired work wear…

Above: Katrina channels the spirit of  Audrey Hepburn…

Above: One of my favourite images from the shoot.