Shop Around - Vintage High Street Fashion and Secondhand Finds

Don't adjust your screens, I'm wearing something from the high street but there's no cause for alarm, there's no dubiously produced fast fashion to see here. This is vintage British high street fashion from Miss Selfridge, a brand as old as me (created in 1966) and still going strong today.

Add caption

I spotted the dress listed in eBay's non-vintage section as a 1970s-style maxi but was pretty certain from both the style, those gauzy cotton sleeves, tiered skirt and ribbed bodice just shouted 1970s, and by the metal zip, clearly visible in the picture, that it was the real thing and not a reproduction. I imagine that the seller was too young to know that Miss Selfridge had been going since the Sixties and just assumed it was a modern dress.Won for the princely sum of £6, my initial suspicions were confirmed when it arrived and I saw Made in England printed on the label. It's a sorry state of affairs when there's so few clothes manufactured in the UK these days that a Made in England (or Made in Great Britain) label is, more likely than not, a vintage garment.

Source: Get Some Vintage Appeal

Back in the day Miss Selfridge stocked clothes by Thea Porter, Ossie Clark and Gina Fratini. While mine's of the same era (the adverts all date from 1972) it's just a bog standard house brand, but the quality of the cotton is incredible and the fit is perfect. Back then fashion didn't come cheap and I imagine the original owner would have saved hard to afford something this pretty and, judging by the condition of it, it was treated with love and respect. How times have changed, eh?

I'm definitely feeling the floral vibe at the moment. This was Tuesday's outfit, all items I've had for ages but that I'd never worn together before. I love it when a plan comes together! The handmade '70s handkerchief-hem skirt, belt and boots are all vintage but the top was bought....new! It's okay though, I've had it 18 months now, no throwaway fashion in my wardrobe.

I'm not really into bags but spotted this adorable leatherette vintage vanity case in the £3 and under charity shop this morning, it even has the original key. Made in Denmark by Cavalet, a company founded in 1945 and, like Miss Selfridge, still in business today. In the old days before computers were invented, I used to have to go the library to research the labels of vintage treasures I'd found, nowadays it's all there at the click of a button. I even discovered a couple of 1970s adverts for Cavalet.

Vintage Cavalet advert SOURCE

In other shopping news here's some of our latest finds. We've only been out a couple of times but haven't done too badly.

Clockwise from top left: Mellor Model chiffon maxi dress; Amazing 1970s braided suede blazer; Phool midi skirt and waistcoat set; Cotton and lace maxi dress with a print featuring hot air balloons and Edwardian ladies (only in the 1970s!); 1980s St Michael green velvet blazer; 1970s St Michael pure new wool Herringbone maxi coat

Clockwise from top left: Dutch waxed cotton African dashiki; 1960s St Michael pea coat; the best leather patchwork blazer ever and a moleskin wool waistcoat worn over a 1970s disco shirt by "Spaghetti Western"

You'll find these treasures plus many, many more on our rails when we trade with Pop Up Vintage Fairs this coming Sunday. I promise to take a photo of the chap who eventually buys the patchwork jacket, he's going to be a seriously cool dude.

See you there!

Talking of fairs here we are last Saturday, ready to sell, sell, sell at Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair in Leamington Spa. We had a fab day, caught up with some of our lovely vintage trading family and even met a blog reader (hello, Liz!)

SOURCE

I met Natalie at the last Leamington Spa fair we did back in the Spring where she bought some groovy 1970s trousers from us. She's a super talented photographer and also has a blog. Check her out HERE.

See you soon!