Vintage Playsuit || Outfit Post

I love clothes (obviously) and I love styling my own outfits. There's just something so refreshing about creating/styling an outfit, particularly one that you feel to be unique and expressive of your personality and who you are as a person. However, doing this can be pretty time consuming and can be a lot of effort. I've found the bets things to wear when in a rush, or if you simply can't be bothered etc are either dresses or playsuits. They are one item and only require you to pick shoes (and accessories if you so desire.) There is no need to stress over whether 'that top' will go with 'those jeans/skirt/shorts' etc etc and generally they are effortlessly stylish.

I went through a stage of never wearing dresses accept on formal occasions. They made me feel to girly and for some reason made me feel as though I was immensely over-dressed for whatever I was doing. So for about a year (I think) I didn't wear dresses casually, bus over the past couple of years I've started to refund my love for them, they are so so easy to wear and incredibly comfy. However I was then introduced to playsuits. 

Playsuits came in to fashion a couple of years ago as what I remember to be a "summer essential"… To be honest, at first I didn't really get it. Why would I want to wear a dress with shorts that meant having to completely strip when wanting to the bathroom? Surely they're not very comfortable I thought. Well I was proven wrong when I bought my first playsuit a couple of years back form Accessorize: it was navy blue with this pretty white detail on the chest. I still have it but I've worn in so much that there are hundreds of holes everywhere and it's most definitely on its way out ): 

Anyway, since then I've absolutely adored playsuits, they are possibly one of the comfiest things ever and they have the simplicity and style of a dress, but with the liberty of movement. You don't have to worry about it flying up in a gust of wind, or worrying that you're possibly showing a bit too much when sat down or sprawled across the sofa. 

Do you remember that post I did about the vintage stall in my local market ran by the wonderful Isabel? (If you didn't see it, you can read it here.) Well I regularly make visits to the stall and I had my eye on this playsuit for about a month, but every time I went to the stall I never seemed to have any money on me. However, on Friday I finished my last AS Level Exam and was in town with my friends and made a trip to see Isabel. Oddly enough the playsuit was still there and I actually had money on me so I decided to treat myself for finishing my exams. I tell myself that it because of Fate that the playsuit was still there and therefore I had to buy it.

So here is the playsuit which I bought for £20. The material (I think) is silk, or at least a very similar material such as satin. Admittedly when I bought it, it was huge. But to be honest I like buying things big because I either keep them and wear them baggy and oversized, or I alter them to fit me - I like the challenge… There were pockets on the sides which I heartbreakingly had to get rid of in order to take in the sides, but annoyingly there wasn't really another way around it so I had to say bye bye to the pockets. I think I will be living in this and my two piece all summer.

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|| Isabel's Retro Inspired Clothing Market-Stall ||

The quiet Cotswold town of Cirencester is famous for its markets, ranging from the Home & Garden ones, to the Crafts Market, to the Italian Food Market and the regular market held Monday and Friday in the middle of town. 

Isabel

Over the past few months a new stall has recently started to catch my eye, particularly due to it being relitively new, and I have to say I absolutely adore it. It is a retro inspired clothing stall run by the fabulous Isabel.

"6 months ago I was a stuffy suit wearing business woman (area manager ) working for boots and apple. I changed my lifestyle and now follow my passion." 

When asked what her favourite thing about vintage/retro clothing, Isabel simply replied with: "I love the styles through the years, and the feminine glamour." I have to completely agree with her here as my favourite thing about vintage clothing is how much it changed throughout the years, and how it is still changing right before us.

One of the things that massively drew me toward Isabel's stall was how quickly her stock grew. I remember the first day I went to visit it and the range of clothing was small but wonderful, and as the weeks have passed the about of pieces has grown massively. 

The stall contains a range of pieces from various decades such as 1920's flapper dresses, to 1940's skirts and blazers, to 1970's inspired dresses. The collection of fur coats is extensive, with many being real fur and other being faux-fur and in various different colours, tones, styles and cuts - one suitable for everyone. You will also be delighted to hear that the clothes are all at amazing prices.

This particular dress I am utterly in love with. The rich purple is gorgeous, and the velvet is so soft it almost slips through your fingers. I didn't get round to trying it on (I was too busy taking pictures and i was also freezing) but fI definitely think I will next as it is at an amazing price of £20.

Definition of vintage (putting aside wine option):

1. being of a specified vintage: vintage wine.

2. representing the high quality of a past time; classic: vintage movies.

3. of, imitating, or being a style or fashion of the past; retro: vintage clothing.

4. being the best of its kind; choice: vintage Shakespeare.

5. old-fashioned or obsolete.


For me there's something so wonderful and exciting about vintage clothing. It's a way of celebrating art and history in one single item, there can be so much unknown history within one dress.
It represents a lasting interest and importance along with a air of class and maturity not found among much of the current fashion.

I suppose the definition of vintage is fluid in a way. The term has being taken up by the advertising and marketing industry and has become a term that is used for clothing that is just inspired by a certain era. I personally believe that a dress made in 2010, but made to look like a 1960's dress in not vintage, however is certainly is vintage-inspired or retro-inspired. I believe that real vintage is pure and dates back to the time is was made and was in fashion, I believe it comes with history and a story.
It is apparently known that anything older than 100 years is perceived to be antique, not vintage. This therefore means that everything eventually becomes antique which I think is a nice thought.

More pictures below.

|| Return of the 90's? ||

Fashion in the 90’s was known as ‘Anti Fashion’ stemming from the alternative rock sub-genre of music being released and played at the time, hence the ‘grunge’ term. The ‘grunge’ look consisted mainly of lots of denim and leather, messy-hair, heavy or no make-up, heavy jewellery, hats and big shoes/boots, maxi-dresses and skirts, large men’s t-shirts and shirts, flannels and large vintage jumpers.

Girls at the time looked up to the super models reining the cat walk and the fashion industry, models such as; Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, and also from the influence of 90’s shows and films such as Beverly Hill 90210 and Clueless, and also from the music they listened to at the time; Pulp, Nirvana, and Suede. Young girls (and boys) were becoming heavily influenced by the world around them and as the fashion, music, and entertainment industry changed quickly around them. 

Beverley Hills 90210

The 90’s gave women that uniqueness and ‘sex-appeal’ and that came out in, particularly, women’s fashion.

Women of the 90’s had attitude within their clothing and wearing your mood and attitude on your clothing was acceptable and being glamorous and sexy was part of that.

Vogue

Looking around most cities and in most stores, it is clear that the 90’s are having a very heavy influence on the current fashion trends; however it also seems that the 2012/13 take on grunge has a much more glamorous, feminine side to it; it seems as though this fashion decade transition is becoming a clash of styles; grunge yet glamorous, sexy yet sophisticated.

The return of 90’s fashion is even evident on the catwalks. Some are from a couple years back (2010) but some however are from the current shows and catalogues.

Is this going to be a fashion circle? Or is it just a one time flash-back?

|| Jumper Collection ||

So what with the Winter season dawning upon us and also Christmas, it seems that jumpers are the perfect thing for these cold cold months.

I, myself, own many and are all from charity shops and vintage stores and I love every single one I own.

One of the most wonderful things about oversized jumpers is they can be worn with almost anything. Some (if long enough) can be worn just with a pair of tights in a dress style, others over leggings, jeans, shorts, skirts and they can be worn just to comfy and warm and others to wear out.

Wooly jumpers are perfect for this season as they feel so Christmassy and wintery.

Here are some of the ones I own.

This one I bought in Cotswold Care Hopsice and I absolutely love it. I love how Christmassy it looks and also the length is great - mid thigh so it can be worn as a jumper-dress or tucked into jeans.

  I got this one in Sue Ryder Care. I really like the pattern on it and the colours. Its a normal length but baggy so go well over leggings and skirts, and also tucked into high wasted jeans/shorts.

I got this one in Paris in a vintage shop. I noticed they now sell a similar one in H&M.

This one I got in The British Heart Foundation. It's absolutely massive but is one of the comfiest things I own. I love the little print on the front, much like a golf print.

                

I've had this one for about 2 years now, and I love  the size and colour of it. 
It's baggy but not too long so goes best with leggings.

This one belongs to my sister and she got it in a Sue Ryder. 

Its a lovely green colour and has stripes down the front which give it an army feel.

|| Charity Shop Find - 60's Dress ||

 So as you all know I do love my charity shops and I recently found this little number - and I absolutely love it. I found it in one of my local charity shops (sadly I can't remember which one) and was originally floor length and extra long.
I cut it to just above the knee, and this gave it a 60's look. The fabric is absolutely beautiful, it's really soft and silky. The main colour seen in purple, but there are also yellows, black, and blues visible. The pattern involves lots of swirls and flowers and reminds me of the Cubism Art Movement.

The gold necklace shown in the picture is from my local vintage shop - SheUnique - and I got it for £1. (It had lost it's clip but I attached an old strap at the back which gives it versatility in length.) It looks like chain mail and each hoop is linked to all the others and forms a quirky triangle shape and the original strap has small gold metal balls hanging on it - beautiful.

|| 1960s Fashion ||

The 1960's were a time where fashion was really starting to change and become something much more exciting and interesting. It was a decade that broke many fashion traditions, mirroring social movements during the period. The 1960's was a decade for rebellion, peace making and of course, the famous 'hippy movement.' The 'hippy movement' late in the decade also had a strong influence on women's style, including bell-bottom & flared jeans, the iconic Mary Quant mini-skirt, tie-dye, and batik fabrics, as well as the famous paisley prints. During the sixties, accessories became less important and not as popular due to people focusing more on colours and tones. They were dressing in psychedelic prints, bright and vibrant colours, and mismatched patterns.

The 1960's were a time for fun and the world needed a brighter and more uplifted makeover after the war. And that's just what the sixties had. All their clothes oozed with colour, vibrancy and pattern. They matched, or they clashed. They were revealing or try weren't. But overall the sixties seemed to be a decade that fashion had been given a face lift and people were swung into new an exciting things.

Women were inspired by the top models of the day which included Twiggy, Colleen Corby and Penelope Tree. Corsets, seamed tights, and skirts covering the knees had been abolished. The idea of buying urbanised clothing, which could be worn with separate pieces, was intriguing to women of the era in comparison to previously only buying specific outfits for specific occasions.

In 1964, bell-bottomed trousers were a total fashion craze. They were usually worn with chiffon blouses, polo-necked ribbed jumpers or tops that bared the midriff.

Pixie Haircut on Audrey Hepburn in the 1960's
and on Emma Watson in 2011.

Another style that's come back into fashion. The 1960's is one of those styles that never goes out of style. It keeps coming back, whether it's just for one designers fashion show or one that sweeps the nation and it's found from your most favoured designers to your most trusted high street stores. Jennifer Lopez is never one to shy away from a sexy outfit, particularly here as she mimics the 60's style mixed with a more current animal print and matching thigh-high boots. This mimics the how the 1960's were with fashion, they were becoming more revealing and provocative with what they were wearing.

fanpop.com

wikipedia.org

|| Costume Jewellery ||

There is something quite quintessentially chic and beautiful about costume jewellery. They have a slight excitement and joy about them, whether they have history with them or an heirloom, or just a beautiful piece of jewellery. I have a bit of a personal obsession with them and both my grandmothers enjoy very muchly going through their bags of old jewellery with me. I spend hours looking at them, and learning the stories behind some of them. And now that I'm older, and have a bit more appreciation for such things, I have been allowed certain items.

Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, outdate itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style. Its main use is in fashion, as opposed to "real" (fine) jewelry which may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes, or investments. Costume jewelry is made of less valuable materials including base metals, glass, plastic, and synthetic stones; in place of more valuable materials such as precious metals and gems.

I am a lover of vintage fashion, as are many others, and scouring the high street stores I never really find myself completely satisfied, and I don't end up buying anything unless from a charity shop or a vintage shop. For those who turn your noses up at the thought of second hand clothes - you are wrong. You will never know the joys of second hand shopping until you try it. I personally love it a great deal, and you can find the most amazing deals/bargains and sometimes you may find some sort of designer item which would've originally been out I your price range but is now only £2.50 it seems silly to miss out!

But back to costume jewellery, if you know where to go for it, you can get amazing deals. The local vintage shop near me has the most amazing beauties and treasures and I can literally spend hours in there. You can also find some in charity shops, however the best place to get authentic costume jewellery is from your family. They may have a story behind them, or they might just be more exciting to know that your grandmother once wore it.