Festival Fever: We be burnin'...

Greetings Sports Fans,


With only 2 weeks to go, it's official...we've got Glastonbury fever. Feeding our disease, here's a little blogpost focusing on...

It appears that we're not alone. With the season rolling around, our 'Little Shoppers' are out in full force to prove that there's much more to festival chic than looking like fancy dress/ a sweaty mess. Take a look at this...

Everyone knows that most festival-goers are prone to losing their phones/ keys as well as their dignity. Enter the 'bum-bag,' an accessory considered more Del-Boy wheeler-dealer than ever-so-chic. In the anything-goes arena of a festival, a bum-bag may become not only your new monetary Bff but can be considered pretty darn happenin' when paired with the right pieces [think floral dresses, tye-dye tees and hi-tops] Pratique? Tick! Chic? Tick! Houston, we have a winner!

With demand for festival shorts sky-high [or should that be  'thigh-high' - L-O-L]  anyone that would have predicted the popularity of the Simon Cowell school of 'waist-wearing' would have been labeled a moron pre-2010. That said, the waists of the nation have spoken and this season and the only way is up! Teamed with block-colour blouses or retro sloganed tees, enter your summer staple. Tantastic [great for getting colour on those calves] semi-flattering [don't touch them if you're short] and great when spilling vodka down your legs, in the words or Mr Cowell, they're well "on the money" [Just don't let your pockets hang out like Agy Deyne - not cool]

 

Move over mini-lovers, this summer it would seem that more is, well, more! Once only associated with grandparents over 80 and grandkids under 8, the midi-maxi-over-the-knee trend has gone global. In an array of prints and fabrics, maxi and midi skirts/ dresses are perfect festival garb; as well as adding a touch of decorum and cover-up to your festival look [as opposed to camel toes and too much thigh that comes with the playsuit school of thought] they're multi-purpose: a dirty maxi skirt doubles up as a blanket to enjoy your falafel and rum on, without fear of a dirty bum. Remember: if those knee caps are showin', your hemline needs a-growin'.

That's all for now festy fans - brb next week for more musings on all things Wardrobe.

VW ouuuuuut x

M is for Music, M is for May - LET'S PUT THEM BOTH TOGETHER!

Greetings Sports Fans,


Good Lord, avert from scrolling down the page to see when we were last on here [now we've said that, you're blatantly going to scroll - bad blogging ettiquette huh?] What can we say, it's been a busy few weeks. Not only have we been trawling the UK for SUPER HOT AWESOME STOCK [icelandic volcano, eat your molten heart out for this stock is SCHMOKIN'!] but we've been gearing up for festival season by putting on our very own....gigs! Prepare to revel one and all!

[Has this man turned two satsumas into glasses? Citrus is massiv!]

Now, everyone knows we like to party. We  also like a tune or two. Most days, groovy beats, a bit of Prince and old school hip-hop can be found pouring out of our doors. We are also fortunate enough to know some of the county's most talented musical maestros. That said, The Vintage Wardrobe gives you...THE LITTLE SHOPPER SESSIONS [in full HD. well, 2D. But it's still a 'D.']

Everyone loves an E-Number...

 

Enter the dragon!

Pumping up the Jam!

Loose Talk Costs Lives - 4 talented boys ,1 tiny keyboard

REPRESENTIN'!

 

Ben and Louise, working the streets. 

 

Pedigree chumz

Mr Peel, belts out the requests.

Stevie Wonder made an appearance...

 

Louise Distras 'pon the chords!

Buddabing, buddaboom - there we have it kids! Don't you wish you were there? Well, LUCKILLY for you, we're going to be hosting more music throughout the month and more!! J is for June, J is for...just roll with it! See you laters!

xVWx

Summer time, feelin' fine!

Greetings Sports Fans,


We hope you're well and you didn't destroy yourselves too much during the mother of all bank holidays. The festivities may be over but this bizarre tropical heat seems to be keeping up, leading us to feel - dare we say it - summery.


Inspired by the glorious, suspiciously nice [we've got our back-up parkas in the back for when the sun goes away and we're bombarded with ice, Day After Tomorrow stylee. Not that we're paranoid or anything...] we've turned our hands to a cheeky photoshoot. Working with the wonderful Nadia King, we're bringing sexy back...

Tom Ford, eat your heart out! A summer time feelin' fine isn't a reality only achievable on the posters of high-end ad campaigns and we're all over it like moss on a rock. Crack them pins out and get them marching in store. 


Peace out Vintage Fans!


xVWx

Florals: Bloomin' Marvelous!

Greetings Sports Fans,


It's hot hot hot in The Vintage Wardrobe and we've noticed many an eye-catching trend parade it's way through the door. The gift that keeps on giving, florals are everywhere and we think that they're bloomin' marvelous! Getting to the 'root' of our addiction, here's a selection found in store...

Out and about, here's one of our 'Little Shoppers' clued-up on the look...

Flower Power.

VW x

Little Shop of Shoppers 4: Loose Talk Costs Lives

Greetings Sports Fans,


This week, we caught up with Leeds-based guitar heroes 'Loose Talk Costs Lives' to talk embarrassing outfits, crooner crushes and the bother of an ill-fitting mack....

Q: Hello folks! First of all, a wee introduction for those who may not know 'Loose Talk Costs Lives' from Adam; The Recommender said that you're 'as hard to snare as grasping bubbles' - how would you describe yourselves to, say, your Mum?


Ollie: We've been called post-Pina Colada pop before...'


James: 'Post-Mojito pop?'


Liam: 'I guess you'd essentially call us pop, just not like Cyndi Lauper. Probably indie - there are too many adjectives out there!'

Q: We were hypnotised by the video for your single 'Some Nice Flowers' [see below] - it reminds me a little bit of what I imagine 'Lilt: the Musical' would look like [totally tropical] How did it come to be?


James: 'A lack of sleep and a lot of Premiere Pro. We wanted to make a video using chopped-up people dancing. Well, not literally chopped-up - you get the gist.'

Q: Upon first listen, I guess songs like 'Wreck Ashore' have an air of 'Total Life Forever' to them. Are you prone to comparisons?


Liam: 'We get the usual - Foals, Vampire Weekend etc.'


Ollie: 'We once heard after a gig one guy complain that we could have at least played some Vampire Weekend songs - you've just got to roll with it!'


Q: You're playing 'Live at Leeds' again this year with the likes of other hometown bands like Just Handshakes, (We're British) How far does Leeds permeate your songs?


Liam: 'It kind of goes without saying that we owe a lot to Leeds - it's where we're from as band. Something like playing at the Brudenell is the best thing ever.'

James: 'Liam and I are from down South and Ollie's from Chester - Leeds is a bit of a melting pot, everyone brings something to the table.'


Ollie: 'I bring a bit of Hollyoaks...'


Q: Evidently, you're all snappy dressers in very different ways. What's your style in a nutshell?

Liam: 'We kind of have pairs of styles. James and I are channeling Seinfeld. Ollie and Greg [the elusive fourth member of the band and therefore, the coolest due to his enigmatic status. Mystery's a winner!] you're more....


Ollie: 'Poor. Basically, i'm wearing the same things that i've had for the past 5 years.'


James: 'Seinfeld and Poverty. There we go.'


Q: So moving away from the dapper threads you're wearing now, what's the worst thing you've ever worn?


Ollie: 'I had a pair of Adidas Poppers once upon a time...' [reassuringly, they were a safer red and blue pair instead of highlighter orange or slime green number, both heartburn-inducing to think back on.]


James: 'I wore a Von Dutch hat this century. That's pretty bad. Liam what about you?'


Liam: 'I wore a pretty ill-fitting Mack for our Brudenell shoot...'


James: 'An ill-fitting Mack. That's your WORST outfit?!'


Liam: 'Ok, how about buddy holly glasses? They're pretty bad.'


James: 'Actually, I used to wear them to. Even though i had big, prescription glasses, i'd still wear fake ones. I've never thought about that before...' [at this point, James falls into an existential crisis...]


Q: We at The VW are a big fans of basing our looks on cartoons. Who would be your animated dopplegangers?


Ollie: 'These guys would say that i'm Speedy Gonzalez. Not because of speed, but because I can grow a pretty mean moustache' [no matter what shape or size, Ollie can apparently grow them to order]

Liam: 'I'd have to be either Rocko [from Rocko's Modern Life] or Harold from Hey Arnold' [the mono-toothed, Jewish bruiser with a good heart.]

James: 'I don't know who i'd be...'


Liam: 'How about Robin. But not a modern Robin. A 60s Robin.'


James: 'Ok, a 60s Robin or maybe George, from Sharkey and George.'


Q: And finally, you've won the chance to take out any celebrity songstress on a date. Who's it going to be?


Ollie: 'Hayley Williams from Paramore.'


Liam: 'Rihanna [James concurs] I'd sit on her thighs.'


Upon the thighs of Rihanna seems a good place to end. Playing the Unconference, Live at Leeds, Evolution Festival [alongside the likes of The Kills!] and a solo show at The Faversham on May 14th, there's ample opportunity to catch these lot doing what they do best, singing heart-felt lyrics and playing Syphilitic riffs that will have you hitting the 'replay' button more than you thought possible. Away from comparison, Loose Talk's songs are the sounds of four fellas having the time of their lives. What's more enjoyable than that?

If you're down with the audio delights of Loose Talk Costs Lives, Vintage Wardrobe will be stocking a range of band t-shirts, perfect for wearing your support on your sleeves [and chest, stomach etc]

That's all for now folks,

VW out! x

Ollie: '

Polka Dots: Spot On

Greetings Sports Fans,


Today's post comes courtesy of two words which seem unavoidable this time of year, 'Spring Clean.' An antidote to the Summer, Autumn, Winter hoard-fest which is the life of a vintage lover, we too have had a look at our wardrobe and thought, 'enough is enough.'


Leaving no stone unturned, we tackled the shop recently. Having seen better days, we decided a little spruce-up would do a world of good to the stock room [NB: we use the term 'room' rather sparingly. Probably more accurate in terms of size, the term 'Stock Coffin' unfortunately carries too many negative connotation. Besides, I quite love the little room, having all the logistical sorcery of a clown car for storing so much in so small a space!] Whilst banishing all bad feng shui, we uncovered a little gem from long ago....

Unearthed was nothing less than a lovely seventies polka dot day dress. 

Looking around The Vintage Wardrobe, we've clocked-up a fair amount of dots, be they big and bold or black and white. Permeating every decade, there's something we like about them....

As pictured in the Oscar de la Renta gown below, there can be something ultimately elegant about dots, equidistant from their brothers and sisters on a garment - a million miles away from their reputation as "fun" [the word makes me shiver!] adornments on eighties circle skirts or fifties dresses. Pop them on a pencil skirt or blouse and you've got a garment that means business.


 Looking back to our original find, there's something in the colouring of red, white and blue [oh how patriotic!] that we loved, alongside the placing of the dots. Mirroring the sixties trend for atomic furniture, there's something molecular about the dress, the dots bouncing of the lapels and belt, conjuring the thought that it only stays still when your eyes are on it.

Whether you think we're absolutely dotty for loving prints like this, there's no denying that they're only on the up in A/W 11 [did you see the Marc Jacobs show? It was practically a living dot-to-dot from one end of the catwalk to the other!] Just like the leopard, we at VW won't be changing our spots come Autumn.

VW x

Straight Up your Alley!

Greetings Sports Fans!

It's the first Friday of the month and that only means one thing in our night-time diaries - Straight Up!

Once again, it's all hands on decks for the Straight Up mandem, spinning jams like there's no tomorrow! Expect the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Snoop and much much more. There's even a raffle with drinks prizes galore and a cheeky 150 big ones on offer for the best photograph from the evening, destined for infamy on the new Straight Up flyer [note to self: attempting to form a conga covered in Savana with one eye open is not a flyer-worthy way to be. Well, we'll see] Proud to be the events sponsor, we'll see you.....there? [disclaimer: we use the term 'see' pretty loosely as vision tends to flee the nest at around 1am]

Vintage Wardrobe + Straight Up: Bringing sexy back since 2010

Get yer dancin' shoes on amigos! x

What comes after Part B again...?

Greetings Sports Fans,


It's the end of the week again and, for the first time in , like, FOREVER, we really can't stay to chat! [gasp!] However, in the spirit of being good bloggers [and, like, totally missing you and everything...omg, what's like, up with our typing today? We, like, totally think we're Lizzie Mcguire or something. Rofl.] we wanted to keep you in the loop. As you're aware, we at the VW like to treat everday like a party and today, well, it's no exception!

That's right folks, in partnership with Vodka Revolution, VW are having a STUDENT LOCK-IN! Lots and lots of students, liquor and low, low prices - perfect Friday afternoon huh? [here's some we styled earlier above - NOT! Although I do like his trousers....]


If that wasn't enough, we'll be mixing our drinks and swapping the voddy for Beefeater gin [oh the thought of it!] at the launch of 'bespoke design emporium,' Full Circle this evening. Working alongside travelling vintage troupe, Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair, we're styling our third catwalk show in 2 weeks. With a brief of Studio 54, we've opted for slinky dresses, maxis in both coral and black and outfits a la Pfeiffer in Scarface. Here's a window into what we wanted, taken from the club itself...

Just add horse and you're good to go!

Have a wonderful weekend one and all and come say hello!

VW out xx

Little Shop of Shoppers 3: Paulina the Fashionista

Greetings sports fans!


We hope you're out and about catching some early pre-Spring rays. For all those stuck behind a laptop, take five and have a gander at our latest 'Shop of Shoppers' feature - Paulina the Fahionista. Coming all the way from Chile via South Carolina, we caught up with the graphic design guru to talk raiding her moms closet, decade-hopping and the evils of the linen pant-suit...

Q: Miss Olivares, you look amazing! [seeing is believing so check out the pictures above and below] Put that style in a nutshell for us onlookers.


A: 'Hmm, it's difficult to say - I definitely veer toward the loud [aztec prints, strawberry-and-cream swirls, paint flicks - we're like two vintage peas in a pod!] That said, I like mixing things up, looking different every day. Sometimes I jump eras, sometimes I mix the feminine with the non-feminine - it keeps things fresh and suits your mood. I have to say i'm a 'liney' kind of gal - I love black and white, classicism [perhaps a by-product of the graphic design trade?]


Q: You mentioned eras - do you do a Delorean when approaching your wardrobe or do you stick to a certain era?

A: 'Honestly, I'm hopping between the 1940s and the 1970s at the moment. I love the 40s for the femininity of it all; clothes that accentuate your curves and skirts that make you want to spin! I love clothing that makes you want to dance - it's a great reason to wear something. I lean towards the 70s because of the glamour of it all -loud prints, slinky dresses, the stacked heels - what a fun time to be alive! That said, I admire the 20s  - drop waists, fringing, beading - what's not to love?'


Q: You're a font of fashion knowledge Paulina - who do you draw your inspiration from?



A: 'That would have to be my Mom. Honestly, she's unlike the stereotypical image of a mother - her wardrobe is out of this world! When I was younger and we would go round the stores in Chile, she made me hate shopping. She's the sort of Mom that goes around and spends hours in one store, pulling at the seams of everything. Then again, she's got a wardrobe that's stood the test of time. Her kryptonite is defintiely shoes - she has hundreds of them!'


Q: Let's talk a little about your kryptonite - what's one item that you just couldn't be without?




A: 'Hmm - there are lots of things. I do have a thing for jackets. At the moment, it's my combat boots [pictured] - they're a god-send!'

Q: As someone that's seen vintage on both sides of the globe, you must have picked up some insane bargains. Any spring to mind?'


A: 'Back home, there was a store where you could buy clothing by the pound for $1.09 - that's pretty insane! In Leeds however my best find has to be an aztec-print cape which I secured for a whopping £11.50 - I would have paid a good $80 for that in the US.'


Q: As everyone can see, you dress pretty groovily [apologies for the term 'groovily' - I think I've gone all 70s! Must be sun stroke] today - are there any couture skeletons hanging in your closet?


A: 'Believe it or not, I was a bit of an emo back in the day! We're talking flared hipster jeans, coffin earrings, an unhealthy obsession with The Nightmare Before Christmas. I've always been a little left of centre in terms of dress; on my first day at an American school, my Mom dressed me in a full linen pant-suit. There I was, aged 9, the new kid, dressed in linen. Most folks don't see linen before they're 45 - I was 9! Whether stylish or not so, I've always had a passion for what I'm wearing. Kids today have so much more awareness of trends and styling through magazines, e-commerce and the television. I was, and always will be, a bit of a wildfire.'


Q: Finally, what's on your speakerbox on this sunny, Yorkshire day?


A: 'A bit of everything really - I love Joanna Newsom. I'm listening to Lykke Li a lot [try saying that fast] - she's playing Leeds on my birthday so that should be sweet.'

One of our fave sisters from across the sea, Paulina's style is exemplary. Paulina, bring those pins of yours into The Vintage Wardrobe anytime!

Tune in next week for more styling and madness from inside The Vintage Wardrobe.

Big up yourselves,

Team VW x

Did anyone order...a WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER?

Greetings Sports Fans,


We're hope you're well on this slightly grim Friday afternoon and not mourning loved ones lost to the AWESOME power of the Yorkshire wind [anchor your boots one and all, it's blustery!]


What a week it's been for all in the VW. Take a seat and let us tell you a tale...


As some of you may know, this week is national fairtrade week. In the spirit of ending inequality in the threads we wear, institutions and universities throughout the UK are putting on soirees, shows and dressy affairs, showcasing a world lifestyle where we don't have to shaft our brothers from another mother in order to eat, drink and shop for under a tenner. Down with the cause, The VW agreed to participate in a Student Fashion Show, walking the walk with Oxfam and monarchs of cool, Urban Outfitters. Fashionably [and, er, traditionally] late, we turned up only to be mobbed by you lovely shoppers! All the pandemonium of a Bieber concert [ok, maybe we exaggerate but it was frikkin' busy!] here's what we got up to...

,

Not bad huh? Safe to say, we had a lovely time. Our story doesn't end there, dear readers, for we have been getting our stylist on not once but TWICE this week. Picture this - a Friday afternoon not unlike this one. In roll three lovely ladies claiming to need styling for a fashion show ['aha' you proclaim, 'the lovely ladies above!'] Oh presumptuous reader, how wrong you [and we] were! It turned out that the good-natured folk at VW had signed up for not one, but TWO shows, one after the other. Styling this troupe as best possible, the ladies were walking in the Leeds Vintage Fashion show, a showcase of all vintage purveyors in the hood. Onwards!


Monday evening rolled around and a nervous Nicole rolled up to the Leeds University Union [i was crilling at home yet there in spirit] alongside Blue Rinse, Second Hand, Pop and other monoliths of the Leeds vintage scene. Riding solo, Nicole took her seat amongst the rest of the purveyors and their retro crews. As the show kicked in, the presenters introduced the stores and models, ending with a polite request that members of the audience pay attention and 'vote for their favourite.' Yes dear readers, vote. Much like I imagine the election campaign of Terminator-turned-congressman Mr Schwarzenegger [i'm sure he thinks he's in a film], we were, unwittingly, being VOTED on. Panic anyone?


A few thousand worried texts and a cranberry juice later, our models came out. We're biased so check them out for yourselves...

Little beauties aren't there? [we had three but alas, one of our team was struck down with illness on the day of the show. NIGHTMARE! ] One model down, shocked and solo, Nicole begged, borrowed and stole to get a vote card. Votes in, we waited on edge. Safe to say...

That's right folks - Number 5, Girl in Gold won the overall best outfit and style at the Leeds Vintage Catwalk show. Safe to say, we were ECSTATIC!

Another victory to add to the Vintage Wardrobe trophy cabinet, we can't believe our luck. Girl in gold, we salute you! Tune in next week for more tales of world domination and a sneeky peek at our new favourite thing...FURNITURE!

Cupboard lovin',

The VW x