Vintage Visits
Looking for a flea market fix, a good old rummage at a car boot sale or a trip out to a cool vintage store – here’s my round-up of Vintage Visits for the weeks ahead!
NewcastleVintage Fair
The Newcastle Vintage Fair takes place on Saturday 5th May between 12-5pm at the Northumbria University Students Union. Organised by Judy’s Vintage Fair, it should be a great place to grab some chic and cheap retro fashions and kitsch collectables.
Jump to Jubilee Market
Last but by no means least, if you fancy a jaunt out to the Suffolk coast in June, Deben Events is hosting ‘The Jumpin’ Jubilee Vintage Market‘ at Snape Maltings on Sunday 3rd June. There’ll be around 50 vintage traders, so it’s a great way to enjoy the Jubilee weekend with a spot of very relaxed retro retailing!
Camden Cool
In London’s Camden Passage, discover a delightful mixture of vintage finds and pukka antiques cheek-by-cheek in the area’s many shops, arcades, malls and markets. Every Wednesday and Saturday, more traders throng to the area, stalling out on pavements as the place bustles with bargain-hunters.
On Course to Newbury
Not strictly vintage, but the one-day Newbury Antiques and Collectors’ Fair on Monday 11th June, to the west of London, boasts hundreds of traders selling everything from furniture and jewellery to decorative items on Newbury Racecourse from 8am onwards.
Show makes a Splash
The Victoria Baths on Hathersgate Road in Manchester play host to The Vintage Home Show on Sunday 10th June from 11am to 4pm. Meet over 40 dealers of furniture, lighting, art, glass, ceramics and much more!
SeasideSpecial
Fancy dipping your toes in the sea followed by a little vintage shopping? On the first Saturday of each month the Royal Arcade in Boscombe becomes a must-visit for lovers of the retro and kitsch as the Boscombe Vintage Market takes place in the Royal Arcade. The next one is on Saturday 2nd June from 10am to 4pm, so expect a lively mix of textiles, art, craft and collectables, along with a little live music to keep you entertained.
Bang on Bloggers
The vintage scene is thriving in the UK! And the buzz is also alive online with lots of retro-inspired bloggers sharing everything from their latest chazzer shop finds, revamped furniture, style tips and homemade creations.
Addicted to Junk
Junkaholique is a fab blog by jewellery designer and junk shop fanatic, Artemis Russell. It’s an entertaining read and has some great images of her travels around the south coast of England and her many junk finds, photography and beloved VW camper van. I particularly like the post about her husband’s shed where he likes to busy himself with various craft projects. It looks a very cosy and snug place to settle down with a cuppa and create something lovely.
Cool for Kat
Kat Got the Cream is written by thrifty-eyed blogger and style-conscious saver, Kathryn Sharman. Kat reveals her latest frugal fashion finds, picked up in charity shops or as bargains on the high street. Elsewhere, read about her latest adventures sampling homemade cakes and other delicacies in the UK’s best timeless tearooms, and see what second hand bargains she’s got her paws on.
Blogging Bird
Vintage Bird Girl is a 30-something blogger living the retro lifestyle down under in Queensland, Australia. She may be a world away from the UK, but her blog’s a great read for getting an insight into vintage living in other parts of the world. Describing her look as ‘Nana style’, this girl likes foraging for nearly new and really old bargains in furniture, home décor, fabric and everything in between. Go and say G’Day!
Retro to Go
Seeking some ideas for a nearly new day out? Here’s my round-up of places to go retro!
Best of British
Kicking off at the end of last month, the V&A’s ‘British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age‘ is an eclectic exhibition of some of the most celebrated art and design objects that were produced in Great Britain in the era between the two Olympic Games. Running until 12th August, discover designs that show the tension between tradition and modernity as new designers and artists put their stamp on the country’s cultural and social landscape.
Festival Favourite
It’s still a little way off, but the buzz around this year’s Vintage Festival at Boughton House in Northamptonshire from 13-15thJuly continues to grow. A celebration of British style and music from the 1920s to the 1980s, there’s a pop-up vintage high street, dance classes, upcycling workshops, classic movies, glamping…. It sounds a blast! I love it that they have commissioned Sir Peter Blake to re-imagine the cover of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Oh, and keep your eyes open for a fab Vintage Festival competition coming up on Preloved soon….!
Retro Reads
There are few things better than spending an afternoon curled up with a good book and just one (or perhaps two) teacakes for company!
A Capital Collection
I’ve been lucky enough to be given a copy of a recently released book called Second Hand & Vintage London by Andrew Whittaker. As an ex-resident of The Big Smoke, it’s a great read for reminiscing about the hundreds of fab places the capital has on offer for snaffling up a bargain. Preloved has also got an interview with the author here and he’s done a thorough job of pulling together all of London’s hundreds of places to shop second hand into one concise, easy-to-read tome, complete with location maps. And what’s more, you also have the chance to snap up your own copy of the book as Preloved is giving away five signed copies in a fab competition.
Men’s Style File
Here’s an interesting magazine that I came across and wanted to share with the boys! Men’s File says it is a ‘modern magazine tracing the roots of style’. Oh, and it looks fantastic with its pictorial features on what it calls ‘heritage style’ (so don’t expect to find any big name brands) made by smaller producers with a definite eye on creating classic styles from the past.
Book of Designs
Here’s a great read, coinciding with the V&A’s current exhibition ‘British Design 1948-2012: Innovation in the Modern Age‘, this paperback of the same name celebrates the best in British design and the impact it has had on our lives, from Mary Quant to Punk and much more!
Love it! Want it!
I’m always keeping my eyes peeled for those one-off items or new or re-worked designs that give an affectionate nod to an earlier era. Of course it’s a never-ending list, but here’s what I’ve spied recently…
Retro Ringers
OK, I’m not denying it, I love an iPhone as much as the next girl, with its beautiful lines and incredible tech stuff going on under the hood. But, when it comes to having a good old chinwag with a chum whilst relaxing in my Ercol recliner, these refurbished GPO telephones have a certain comforting and no-nonsense charm about them that today’s iPhones and Androids find hard to match.
SeasideSeats
Is it beach weather where you are? If you’re planning a staycation in Blighty this year, these Wayne Hemingway designed vintage-style deckchairs are a good looking choice for some seaside seating. They feature saucy retro cartoons and cheeky slogans, so roll up your trousers, get a hankie on your head and relax!
Love the Bug
Who wouldn’t want to jump in this vintage VW camper van and head off to a sandy beach – I love this bug! There’s plenty of Dubs f
or sale, but this one’s a little bit special because it’s retained many original features and the owner says the interior is “straight from 1970”.
Perfect Picnic
What’s the best place in the UK for a picnic? Got any well-hidden gems that we should know about? Wherever you head for to tuck into your egg & cress sandwiches and lashings of Ginger beer you need a good solid picnic hamper that will your food fresh and secure. So how about this little picnic hamper from the 1940s, which has stood the test of time, even boasting a china pot for your gentleman’s relish?
A-Z of Cool
I’m a sucker for a bit of cool typography, so love this alphabetical poster aimed at kids, from the brilliantly named nippazwithattitude website! It comes in NYC taxi cab yellow & black and features such memorable ways to learn your letters as ‘V is for vinyl’ and ‘K is for kung Fu’!
Say Hello!
If you’ve got some vintage tales to tell, or you’re running a retro-inspired event or second hand in your area tell me all about it by dropping me a line right here.
