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

Calling all Bookworms!

Greetings people of Leeds,


Today Vintage Wardrobe comes to take a stand and  share some joy on a somewhat washed-out Saturday afternoon.


 No matter what the weather, we here at VW love a story; come rain or shine, you just can't beat a good book. With bookshops leaving the highstreet and libraries shutting down left, right and centre, it seems that a good 200 paper page-turner is on track to be a thing of the past.


Putting on our activist noggins, we at the VW got to thinking. Looking around Headingley with its mix of students, young proffessionals and family types, one assumes that the book is alive and kicking. That said, let's face it - most of us don't have the time to finish a hundred page thriller or the disposable income to fund it [when it comes to books vs munch, food always wins on the list of priorities, no matter how tasty the blub] Our feathers ruffled, we here at the VW decided to do something about it, to take our own little stand. Introducing....The VW BOOK SWAP SHOP!

No charges, no fees - just good ol' fashioned swapping, one book for another [although if you're REALLY desperate for a novel, all are priced at a jaw-dropping £1] In our first lot, we've had a few shiners come through...

Nich Hornby, antiques, wine-making, hinduism, feminism, pirates, robots, Freud, drug culture and Wuthering Heights. Not a bad mix huh? We even found this retro gem amongst the others...

Guinness World Records from the 1950s anyone?

All of these are waiting to be swapped. Sweep your book shelves, cull your collection and get involved now! Yorkshire bookworms, come out of the woodwork!

Happy Readin'

VW x

One year older, One year wiser...

Greetings sports fans! 


Happy Tuesday to you. Here in the VW, it's no ordinary day [well, when is it ever?] Guess what, guess what?! It's only our BIRTHDAY! *insert party poppers and a hip hip hooray here*

One year older and one year wiser [?] we're getting a tad nostalgic...what a year it's been! The Leeds Rocks Catwalk show, a stint at the Corn Exchange, slots in the Guardian and the  Leeds Guide, sponsoring the decks at Straight Up, a top-drawer Boozaar and, of course, our Leeds Retail Award...it's enough to make any retailer a bit weepy. Waxing historical, we realise that such a year couldn't have gone on without some wonderful people. In true Oscar style, here's a few of the famous names that have made this year such a hit for us kids...

Lee Hicken and Shang Ting Peng - the most fashionable and supportive power couple we know.

Anna Guru - media mogul supreme.

Adam Burns - PR Superstar

Ian Hinchliffe - HB Hitman

Jenny Sneap/ Lucy Howson and the models and makeup team

Nommy, Tuk Tuk, With Thrashes Katy B and New Retro - our go-to designers

Spun2Gold, Freja and Once Upon a Charm - the jewels in our crown

Ols Moore, Ben Peel, Loose talk costs lives and Geraint Jones - musical maestros

Paddy Wagstaff - man on decks

Arthur Pint - website whizzkid
DJ Joe - Resident DJ/ Eye-Candy

The Brudenell Social Club,  and all at Leeds Guide

Of course, there's one special category of folk missing who have made this year ab fab for all at the VW, one group who are here come rain or shine. Not guessed it? We're talkin' to YOU foo'!

Yes you lovely pups - we'd be nothing without you, NOTHING. Words can't express how happy you make us [but maybe this little picture can do the job...]

With another of our fave sponsored club nights 'Straight Up' on Friday, a catwalk show with Urban Outfitters on Tuesday and a student lock-in ahoy, we really are counting our blessings. And so we raise a glass to you, dear readers, one year on. We'd blow out our candles but there's really nothing left to wish for.

Peace and love,

The VW x