Little Shop of Shoppers 1: Joe the Gymnast

Getting off our laurels, we've been out on the streets, meeting the kids that flock into the shop on a regular basis. First up in our new 'Little Shop of Shoppers' feature, we talk to 23 year old student, gymnast and hand-stand magician Joseph Kanauros as he waxes lyrical about Lil Weezy and Debussy down times...


Q: So Joe, how would you describe your style?


A: 'It's hard to put a label on it - at the moment I'm loving all things Fresh Prince  - big colours and Carlton cardigans. I swing between alternative and conservative - I love the preppy, college look like The Drums.'


Q: Would you say they [The Drums] are your muse?


A: 'They are one of many - I like their look, but then I'm liking the 90s at the moment. And of course, there's hiphop - I love Lil' Wayne. My look kind of throws it all together, kind of a hip-hopera.'


Q: What would make the cut into your couture hall of fame?


A: 'That's a thinker - I have some Kurt Geiger desert boots that have never let me down. I'm all for mixing up charity shop steals and vintage with the odd big name like Geiger - they're expensive but they last. I've also got a Burberry Mac that belonged to my Dad! I don't tend to wear it too often as it's just too cool. Nice to look at but way too cool to wear.'


Q: And beyond prized Geiger and vintage bits, what's lurking in your hall of shame?


A: 'Ha! probably some shiny, red Quicksilver trousers that I had years back which I thought were the bomb! My Mum bought them for me and I wore them non-stop! Perhaps those monstrosities or Playboy boxers. Big  mistake huh?'

Q:Nice. Tell me an item you can't live without.


A: 'Definitely my watch - I'm always bounding around either to train, coach or go to uni. I bought this massive, gold Casio from you guys [around £30] and it's great - the face is so big you can see it from space! I like mixing it up with watches - I'm pleased the pocket watch is making a come back - I'd quite like to wear one without looking an absolute tool.'


Q: And finally, tell me what's on your speaker-box today? Is it all 'Eye of the tiger' and 80s montages to help you train?


A: 'Ha, big names! No, at the moment I'm favouring bands like Foals [alongside Lil' Wayne of course] 'Spanish Sahara' sends me to sleep. However my favourite number is strangely 'Claire de lune' by Debussy [how high brow!]as  it's just nice to listen to and never gets old! I'd love to go back and time and tear it up with Debussy!'

Check back next week for more musings from our Lil Shop o Shoppers. Watch out, paparazzis about!

Kizzle VW x

Dog Days

Greetings Sports Fans,

If you're bored to tears at work and counting down to the weekend, take a gander at the latest addition to The Vintage Wardrobe clan.....introuducing Zsa Zsa Gabor [note: name to be confirmed. Isabella Blow II is also in the mix but it's a bit of a mouthful]

Now, we're not ones to gush over animals but looooooooooooooook, she's so cuuuuuuuuuute. Here she is, hard at work....

"Hmm, those guys think i'm working but i'm actually on I-Tunes buying the new single by BARK Ronson. WOOF!"

We love her, you love her, there's just a whole lot of love right now. If you're in the Headingley hood, pop in and see this little lady. At the moment, we're just relieved she's not turned into an 8 year old boy or girl like that 90s favourite 'WOOF!' on CITV. Check it out for yourselves below....

Hella-cool? Hella-CREEPY more like! We love you just the way you are Zsa Zsa G!

VWx

Spring in The Vintage Wardrobe

Spring has sprung in The Vintage Wardrobe!

Well, perhaps not. But as we open our doors today for the first time after a lazy yet necessary Christmas, there is a certain 'je ne sais quoi' in the air, a thrill and healthy anxiety not unlike the first day of school. A new year, new trends, new stock, skies that are the limit...oh 2011 you tease, what have you got in store for us??

If pictures posted by store owner and pint-sized partner-in-crime Nicole Evans are anything to go by, statement staples, bold colours and ethereal fabrics await. Never one to take five, Nicole's latest finds [coming all the way from Cyprus - a retro treasure-trove if you know where to go!] are enough to make anyone abandon their Arans and hunt for the Factor fifty. Take a look for yourselves....

With simple blouses big at Fendhi, prints at Cavalli and white dominating Wang and Calvin Klein, the pieces give a real flavour for S/S '11 [and at £15 a pop, are an absolute steal. Click here to let us know you want one!] That said, the first catwalk show that 'sprung' [oh dear, we really do have spring on the mind - what we wouldn't do to no longer have to wear three pairs of socks!] to mind was Raf Simons for Jil Sander. See for yourselves...

Clean lines, exuberant shades and deploying the one trend that everyone's talking about: colour blocking. Whether dressed up or down, simple vintage blouses such as these are perfect for picking up the trend, allowing you to look as sharp as Rubiks cube all season long.

That said, the sun-kissed colours of these Cypriote 'shirts of paradise' may feel a long way off for those of you sat with cold-nipped noses and see-through skin. Taking a leaf out of this 1987 Versace ad, we've got ample wooly knits to keep us going until the sun comes in...

Easy as ABC. Come pop in folks.

 xVW x

20-11: The Year of the Wardrobe!

Greetings Sports Fans!

First of all, a massive 'HAPPY NEW YEAR!' from all at The Vintage Wardrobe!

Whether you were globe-trotting, dancing down the local or opting for a quiet one, we hope that 20-11 went off with an appropriate amount of auld lang syne, bangs and a lot of lovin'

We here at The VW are still on our 'little' holiday [please, it's practically a gap yahh], opening our doors on Monday 10th January. That said, those looking for a vintage fix or a little somethin-somethin' to spend their Christmas cash on should come check us out in The Corn Exchange, going strong in 2011. Still sharing with our buddies in the 'Space' unit, come peruse one of the most ecclectic vintage mixes under the sun; forties explorer ware? Check! Kanye-worthy-casios? Check! twenties get-ups straight out of 'Burlesque?' Check! Enough satin, sequins and seventies garb to make Rihanna foam at the mouth? Err...Check! Here's a taster of what the VW are bringing to the table....

Rolling [quite literally so] our bauble-shaped bodies back into normalcy, our Headingley store will be open from 10:30am on the 10th and we can't wait to see your faces. With this time of year being all about the resolutions, we here at The VW have thought long and hard and decided that 2011 is less about less and, well, more about... MORE! [Quick, bring me my soapbox, i feel a motivational speech coming on! Here's a little music to set the tone...]

 With the success of 2010 under our wings, we resolve to never rest on our laurels; with brand new stock, sales, a shiny interactive website, ebay store and even more events on the cards, 2011 is going to be B-I-G and we're taking no prisoners. No matter how many hours it takes or hairs we lose, we want to bring you the best vintage experience around. 2011, this means WAR[drobe!]

Ok, speech over. But seriously, we're jittering with excitement over what 2011 may bring and most of this is down to YOU! [don't look over your shoulder you numpty, i'm talkin' to you!] Through all of your support,  visits, chats and banter, you've made all of this possible and the dreams of a couple of graduates come true so, er, thanks! If you're alone, pat yourself on the back and if you're in public....do it anyway! [we're thiking of living 2011 by the mantra 'what would Rihanna do' and sir, Rihanna wouldn't caaare!]

Don't forget, if there's anything you see on our Facebook that you're gagging for, drop us an email and we'll either save it or get it sent out to you for FREE! See you loveable lot from the 10th.

20-11 - it's going to be a good 'un! [unlike 2012 which is the apocalpyse according to that film. oooh err.]

Big love,

The VW x