The Blind Lemon Vintage Blog (mainly vintage fashion)

Lodekka vintage shop (on a bus)

2011-05-19T13:56:00.001+01:00

Check this blog out!

It's from a vintage shop that's situated on a bus! In Portland, Oregon, USA.

What a wicked business idea, am so tempted to start looking for a vintage bus to buy!

http://www.lodekka.com/

Edwin x

Hungerford Vintage Fashion Fair

2011-05-17T13:54:00.000+01:00

A new event for August 2011!The first ever Hungerford Vintage Fashion Fair comes to town on Saturday 20th August at the Town Hall. There will be up to 20 stalls with the usual Blind Lemon standard and attention to detail. There'll be menswear, womenswear, accessories and jewellery, all vintage and all pukka.

For more info on what Blind Lemon do please click through to the website; http://www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk to find out more.

Edwin x

Tommy Nutter exhibition

2011-05-11T13:48:00.000+01:00

What a reason to visit the Fashion and Textile Museum in London! 20th May to 22 October 2011

There's an exhibition on the work and life of Tommy Nutter, the legendary Savile Row tailor.

Tommy opened up his shop and business in 1969 along with master cutter, Edward Sexton. before too long the shop was patronised by rock stars and aristocrats all looking to get a piece of bespoke tailoring Nutter style. This exhibition looks at a range of suits that are placed alongside social contexts to enable you to see the impact this man had on the staid (at the time) Savile Row establishment.

There are also workshops and talks. Check out the Fashion and Textile Museum's website JUST HERE.

Oxford Bags baby!

2011-05-06T13:03:00.000+01:00

I found this article online about Oxford Bags last year, it's from fashionencyclopedia.com

Young people attempted to set themselves apart from their elders and establish their own fashion styles in the 1920s, a trend that continues into the twenty-first century. In 1924 at Oxford University in Great Britain, a small group of male students began wearing trousers that never would have been worn by their fathers.

These pants were loosely fitted and featured extremely wide legs; at their knees and cuffs they measured between twenty-two and forty inches wide. They came to be known as Oxford Bags, named for their excessively baggy appearance and the institution of higher learning from which they originated.

I haven't got a pair of these (yet), Hayley is very glad to know.

For more on Oxford Bags please click JUST HERE

Personal thoughts on charity shops selling vintage

2011-05-03T19:08:00.000+01:00

I like charity shops, they raise vital funds for research, palliative care and more

I like charities. They provide much needed services that the public sector can't or won't.

I love vintage. It's green, makes you look unique and I make some money from it.

Just to set the scene I thought I'd write the above.

What I'm not so keen on is charity shops pretending that they're vintage shops by jumping on the selling vintage bandwagon. I was in rePsycho on Gloucester Road the other week talking to the very elegant and glamorous Diane and checking out the latest offerings from Tim and Andy.

Diane was telling me how a newly opened charity shop just up the road had been slagging vintage shops off by stating that they were cheaper. This irked me as well.

There are some very good reasons why there is a price difference between charity shops selling vintage and vintage shops.

Charity shops pay reduced rents and business rates.

Charity shops are staffed by volunteers.

Charity shops don't have to pay for their stock.

Vintage shops pay commercial rates and rent, have to pay for staff and have to pay for their stock.

Plus vintage shops are staffed by people who know what they're talking about in terms of designers, era's, how to care for vintage pieces and much more. We know what we're talking about. Charity shops won't get that much vintage given to them either.

So there I was; a little cross with charity shops whilst being aware that they do such good work and have to raise funds.

Hmmmm.

The Aloha Shirt

2011-04-24T18:45:00.001+01:00

Not even tucked in, blazing and bold, here's the aloha shirt!

The missionaries might have denounced extravagance and nakedness, the craving for vivid colors, tropical textures, and sensual shapes couldn't be suppressed. Within two centuries a modest workman's shirt grew into the trademark wear of Hawaii.

But the history of this shirt reflects the growing pains of a nation and the true Hawaiian aloha shirt has become increasingly hard to find.In the late 1920's and early 1930's tourists, always looking for exotic souvenirs, fell for a fad of the young islanders, unusual prints. Artists and tailors spotted a serious business. The name "aloha shirt", registered in 1936, soon labeled a flourishing industry.

To read more about Hawaiian shirts please click to this site HERE.

Antler magazine - an issue on vintage

2011-04-12T18:39:00.001+01:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

Marks & Spencer in the 1950s

2011-04-03T18:37:00.000+01:00

British fashion history records that Marks & Spencer produced the best ready to wear chain store clothes in the fifties and quadrupled their profits at the same time. Their clothes were not the least expensive, but they were the best value for money. The quality became so high in the 1950s that limits were set on production as everyone wanted the affordable stylish Paris inspired 1950s glamour.

You can read the rest of this article from one of my favourite vintage websites; fashion-era.com by clicking HERE.

Debrett's Guide to the Modern Gentleman

2011-03-02T14:13:00.000Z

Today the notion of gentlemanly behaviour is not nearly as clear-cut as it once was. The time is right to re-examine and redefine this most mercurial of definitions of masculinity, so Debrett's has assembled the essential handbook for the modern gentleman.

An eclectic range of topics includes: the rules of tailoring; successful seduction; the new chivalry; classic cocktails and martinis; how to fly in style; cuisine to impress; tipping and taxis in far-flung places; and how to dress for the board room, the beach or the golf course. This compendium of masculinity is complemented by rare pearls of wisdom from...

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/blindlemonvin-21/detail/1870520777

Enjoy the read! I certainly did.

Edwin

February's Myopic Citrus Newsletter Published

2011-03-01T16:29:00.000Z

That's right!

The latest Blind Lemon Vintage News (called The Myopic Citrus) was published last week.

With articles on lacemaking, Miles Davis the style icon and the beauty of vintage makeup plus the usual vintage blog and book of the month!

What's not to like?

http://conta.cc/hQqJsq

Edwin x

The Inventors of the Dinner Suit

2011-03-01T15:16:00.000Z

Henry Poole & Co. is a gentleman's bespoke tailor located at №15 Savile Row in London. The acknowledged 'Founders of Savile Row' and creators of the Dinner Suit, the company has remained a family-run business since their establishment in 1806. They opened first in Brunswick Square, in 1806, originally specializing in military tailoring, with particular merit at the time of the Battle of Waterloo. Their business moved to Savile Row in 1846, following the death of founder James Poole.

Click HERE to read the rest of this article on wikipedia.

A Video of the Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair

2011-02-25T19:28:00.001Z

This is a video of the Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair from February 2011, done by the boys from Shutter Slice. They've got a facebook page so check them out!

Edwin

The Zip Code

2011-02-25T13:25:00.003Z

The presence or lack of a zip, it's location and it's construction materials give the vintage collector a wealth of information with which to date an item of clothing.

The metal zip had been invented in 1891 by W Litcomb Judson of Chicago USA. He patented a clasp locker system of fastening constructed from a series of hooks and eyes with a clasp lock for closing and by 1893 the metal zipper was in sizeable production.

But many 1920s and 1930's dresses were finished with press studs or buttons because of the unreliability of the zipper mechanism and so most garments were still designed with button fastenings until the 1950s when improvements in zip manufacture were acknowledged. Zippers were usually put in the side seams of dresses, skirts and trousers until the early 50s. Later they were used in the centre back of dresses, skirts and the centre front of trousers.

In vintage terms many enthusiasts believe that a metal zipper in a garment is a good rule of thumb that along with other factors indicates a garment is probably pre 1960. Plastic zippers were available in the 1930s but were not widely used until the 1960s when the YKK Corporation stepped up manufacture in the US.

By the way YKK stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushililaisha, so now you know what the YKK stands for on your zip!

Vintage zipper brands to look out for are the Lightning (maufactured by ICI) in the UK in the 1940s and 50s and the Talon zipper from the USA, again in the 1950s. A word of caution though; the presence of a metal zipper does not guarantee the age and authenticity of a vintage garment. Unscrupulous dealers have been known to insert old recycled metal zippers in to 1960s and 1970s pieces to make them appear to be 50s or earlier.

Hope you enjoyed reading about zippers!

Edwin x

So what about Granny's fur coat?

2011-02-24T17:08:00.001Z

Fur. Always a dilemma, fur has come into the spotlight once again being seen on celebrities and the catwalks. Fake fur is everywhere on the high street and the market for real furs is growing for the first time in twenty years or so.

This is not a place for a discussion on the ethics of fur, but rather is aimed at answering some common questions. Fur has been so unwearable for the last decades that few people possess much knowedge about types and values and I am frequently asked by customers about a fur “found in the attic”.

So what is Grannys fur coat worth?

Firstly the type of fur dictates value, not every brown fur is mink!! There are a huge variety of furs in use, from the very exotic to the more common. Rabbit or “coney” is probably the least valuable fur, it is quite flat, has little sheen and wears badly. Mink is also very common, it comes in many different colours, from blonde to dark. The value of mink depends on its quality, which varies considerably, the best mink is quite valuable, whereas the poorest retains relatively little value.

Almost as important is the style of garment, the most common item is a “mink stole”. Often these clearly are made from one skin, with head and feet still attatched. These usually have little value (people don’t like to wear things with heads!!). The wider shaped stole, formed to sit over the shoulders is much more desirable. These styles are also found in fox fur, which are usually more valuable than mink, particularly if silver or arctic fox.

Jackets of fur are more desirable than the full length teddy bear coats, which usually flatter no one, as they are more wearable. Coats with interesting details or fur trims are also more sought after.

So back to “Grannys fur coat” well if it is a typical full length “mink” in brown, then it is only going to reach a value equal to its desirability, ie not that much. If however the fur lurking at the back of the wardrobe is unusual, of particularly good quality or in a fantastic style then it could prove quite saleable.

There are many specialist fur dealers, who can give valuations. Fur can be remodelled into an object that can be worn or used if its only real value is sentimental. So firstly find out what type of fur you have (people are often mistaken about fur type – including the original owners), the best resource for this is on the Vintage Fashion Guild . Secondly assess the style; is it wearable? And then assess what it means to you: whatever you decide to do, it doesn’t deserve to sit at the back of the wardrobe!!

One final word of warning, most truly exotic furs (big cats etc) are in fact dyed versions of more common furs. However, the sale of real furs from pretty much all the big cats are banned under international law – and this applies to used fur too!! This means if that leopard coat is real, then unless you have proof that it was manufactured before the laws came into place, and the certificate to prove it, it is illegal to sell it AT ALL!! You can check this out at eBay's pages HERE.

Elinor's Hot Shoe Show

2011-02-24T16:05:00.001Z

This is a post on shoes by Elinor Tourlamain from the Blind Lemon Vintage newsletter - The Myopic Citrus, way back when from 2005.

When it comes to shoes its either a love affair or strictly utilitarian. Well for those shoe lovers out there here’s a guide to dating vintage shoes.

Shoe design evolved very slowly until the 1920’s when hemlines rose and manufacturing techniques became modernised.1920’s shoes are typically either “mary jane” with a button ankle strap or T-bar. Uppers are often satin or brocade or very soft leather. In construction these shoes are very narrow, with very flexible uppers, leather stack heels and leather soles. Decorative trims like rhinestones are common, these were shoes to show off!

In the 1930’s shoes were heavier and more modern in construction, and several designers made manufacturing leaps for platform soles emerged. These are usually no more than 1” with the heels being thick and chunky. Sandals with peep toes and straps higher up the ankle are common.

In the war years due to rationing of leather, designers experimented with cloth and early plastic uppers and wood or cork soles. The platform remained in style up to the “new look” of 1947. Forties heels are often very high 4-5”.

The early fifties saw rounded toes and high heels with a deep cut away to the upper, however the stiletto took over after its debut by Dior in 1952. Heels became impossibly thin and toes very pointed, retaining the deep cutaway to the upper. (point to remember, shoes with stiletto heels CANNOT be pre 1950’s – ever! Previous to this the technology required to produce them did not exist). Other styles also entered fashion with the simple flat often ballet style being popular – and who can blame them, those heels are killing to walk in!!

Uppers and soles remained in leather, though there are examples of man made fabrics, notably the famous Lucite uppers (see-through uppers on evening shoes). However towards the 1960’s shoes became popular in a range of materials and man made materials are common. Shoes became lower, with chunky heels, rounded or square toes and over sized decoration, think Quant; bold strong colours. Knee high boots also became a fashion statement in the late 1960’s, mostly heeled with a rounded toe.

By the 1970’s designers began to hark back and took inspiration from the 1940’s to re-introduce the platform. This reached heights of up to 5”!! Often accompanied by bright colours and glittery trims. Suede was a very popular material for uppers.

In the 1980’s the stiletto saw a return, in bright colours and largely unadorned, practical shoes for a working wardrobe. Heavy clunky shoes also became popular such as the iconic Doc Marten. By the 1990’s such a range of styles abounded that to date a shoe by style became very difficult and it remains so to this day, with designers taking from a wide range of periods and styles.

So how do you know if the shoe is old or a modern copy?

A few tips: firstly look at the style of font in the makers logo, this should give a fair indication as to decade. Next is this stamped into both shoes or only one, if so it is likely to be 1950’s or older (and probably partly handmade). Is the sole plastic, rubber or leather? Shoes with leather soles are still made but a shoe with a hard plastic sole will NOT be 1930’s.

If you just want to wear them, it may not matter as much, but for collectors, look for big designers, or at least famous names and stick to styles that reflect the decade, these will always hold their value.

If you liked this article don't forget that you can go to the Blind Lemon Vintage Amazon Associates site where you can get discounted books about vintage everything including shoes!

http://astore.amazon.co.uk/blindlemonvin-21/detail/1845335635

The latest Blind Lemon Vintage newsletter

2010-11-01T22:29:00.001Z

Check out the latest Blind Lemon Vintage newsletter!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Blind-Lemon-Vintage-News.html?soid=1100977026520&aid=eHmgOdnYAp8

Caring for vintage fabric, vintage menswear illustrations, Blogger of the month and much more!

Edwin x

Oh my God, glorious shoes!

2010-10-14T19:20:00.002+01:00

I first came across this guy, Dr. Sevan Minasian, a couple of years ago when I bought a pair of John Lobbs from him online. He knows what he's talking about and has the most wonderful selection of men's shoes to buy on his website.

In his own words....

"My goal with this website and indeed with my years of collecting is to rescue the finely made shoes of yesteryear from obscurity, those treasures of craftsmanship and style from a gentler time, and to place them into the hand of a new generation of refined gentlemen, my revered clients."

And this pair of Edward Greens is available for sale on his website! Christmas isn't far away, ahem.

His fine men's shoes can be found here - http://www.classicshoesformen.com/

On the half-Windsor

2010-10-08T18:11:00.003+01:00

It struck me today how there are basically two types of knot that guys use to tie their ties; the four-in-hand and the half-Windsor. On investigation a few years I found that there are 5 standard knots; the two mentioned above plus the Pratt, the full Windsor and the Christianson.

I started to wonder why blokes choose the knot that they do and do they stick to that knot all through their lives. I asked some colleagues today at work why they tie the one they do, and it basically appears that the knot they use is the one their fathers used. Kinda makes sense. I asked said colleagues how many other knots do they know or use, and they didn't know any others.

I use a half-Windsor if I'm wearing a suit, that means pretty much every day then! By suit I mean a work suit, with a tie needing collar stiffeners. The half Windsor is quite a full knot but importantly for me, is symmetrical. Not that I'm OCD or anything, but that it lies neatly and symmetrically between the collar points, complementing the collar style and the cut and fit of the suit.

But if I'm wearing one of my vintage suits with a vintage shirt (40s or 50s) then I will tie a four in hand. This is a slightly looser knot that is asymmetrical and was worn a lot more often back in the era of the suit I'm wearing. An appropriate knot for an appropriate suit.

I do like the dimple that occurs with a well tied half-Windsor, obviously with a 100% silk tie, mine are usally from TM Lewin, CT, Thomas Pink or on a very good day; a Turnbull and Asser.

Below is a link to show you how to tie a different knot, to suit a different style of shirt. Becuase a full Windsor (sometimes called a double Windsor) will not suit a skinny pointed collar shirt, more suited to a four in hand I'd say.

http://www.tie-a-tie.net/

And here's one for the more rare Christianson - www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Ye-oS_Bfk

And here's one for twelve knots! www.tie-necktie-video.com/necktie-knots.html

On the bowler hat

2010-10-07T18:36:00.002+01:00

I am very pleased to see that the bowler hat is making a comeback.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8043423/Bowler-hat-makes-a-comeback.html

Not least because I own one, a bit battered mind. But it's mine, it's black and it's round.

It does look good with a 3/4 length black overcoat and a burgundy waistcoat, I'll see if I can dig a photo out!

Well dressed men at the Swansea Vintage Fashion Fair

2010-10-04T12:40:00.000+01:00

We had a super day yesterday in Swansea, lots of people through the door looking at lots and lots of super vintage fashion.

And we had some nicely dressed men through the door as well, I love it when that happens!

Hrere's some photos of these chaps in vintage, mocdern or mixes of both.

We've got the Gloucester Vintage Fashion Fair next weekend (10th) at the Guildhall, here's hoping we get more of the same chaps along.

Vintage Fashion Fair season about to start

2010-09-29T12:47:00.000+01:00

We're kicking off the season's run on Sunday October 3rd.

Another 6 weeks of vintage everything!

Swansea Vintage Fashion Fair - October 3rd
Gloucester Vintage Fashion Fair - October 10th
Cheltenham Vintage Fashion Fair - October 17th
Bristol Vintage Fashion Fair - October 31st
Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair - November 7th

You can find further details, advance discount tickets, maps and much more by clicking to;

http://www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk

See you there!

Edwin x

iPhone app goes live

2010-09-29T12:44:00.001+01:00

The long awaited iPhone app detailing all 650 vintage shops and 8500 charity shops in the UK is now available for sale.

You can search via postcode, town or use the current location button. The results are then presented on a list or on a map, allowing you to find all the shops in your area.

You can search the AppStore for Blind Lemon or click on this link to take you to iTunes;

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/blind-lemon/id392497191?mt=8

It's worth a look!

Apps for other smartphones are coming soon so please register with your email address by clicking to http://www.vintageshopfinder.co.uk

Another vintage service from the team at Blind Lemon!

Edwin x

A smartphone app for vintage and charity shops

2010-07-01T18:44:00.000+01:00

Hiya

Apologies for the delay in posting again, been working on some projects.

One of which is going to go live very soon.

It's a smartphone app that contains the locations of 620 vintage shops and 8500 charity shops in the UK.

You'll be able to search viw postcode, via town or view the nearest ones on a map!

How cool is that?

A website will be coming shortly, so watch this space.

Edwin x

On the Making of Ties

2010-04-05T11:02:00.000+01:00

The art of the craftsman and woman is on the wane in so many areas;

pocket knives
the turning of bowls by hand
wooden sives and riddles

and the humble silk tie

I found this article on the Guardian website, it comes with a video. I loved it!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/feb/06/make-a-silk-tie

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/audioslideshow/2010/feb/07/silk-tie-michael-drake

Enjoy

Edwin x

On Men and Shoes

2010-04-05T10:57:00.001+01:00

I now have only 13 pairs of shoes.

I used to have 26.

My father has just 3.

He doesn't understand why I have so many pairs of shoes.

I do.

I love shoes. Shoes are ace. All my shoes are English-made, leather-soled and Goodyear-welted. They're strong in construction, are more expensive than most and will last me a lifetime. My shoes range in colour from light tan, through mid tan to dark tan. There's a brown pair, a chery red and burgundy pair and a pair with a tweed vamp. There's a pair of co-respondents in ebony and cream and 2 pairs of black Oxfords for work. I have wing tip brogues, Florsheims and semi-brogued Oxford toe caps.

I have shoes for every occasion and every shade of indigo fade on my denims.

A good pair of shoes makes me feel rooted firmly and dressed properly. I only wear trainers in the gym, which is where I feel they belong. If my shoes aren't polished and gleaming then I feel underdressed and nto fit to face the world. Perhaps the last statement is a little over the top but am sure you understand what I mean.

My shoes are smart. I like them and I like looking good and feeling nice.

I used to have 26 pairs, but I did feel that this was a little excessive. I got my money back though by selling them all on eBay, having made sure I kept all the boxes and shoe bags etc. They feel like an investment to me for the following reasons;

I can get my money back on them.
People collect them.

By simply resoling and reheeling as and when necessary, usually once per year but sometimes twice, my shoes will last me all of my life. They're classic in shape and design, won't go out of fashion and I get a kick out of people noticing my footwear choice of the day.

Clothes Swapping Events

2010-03-27T01:07:00.005Z

We threatened to be back in action with clothes swapping events!

Early bird notice for Swansea! Saturday 24th July at the National Waterfront Museum.

Plus another one in Cardiff and one in Bristol.

Watch this space.

Edwin x

Valuing vintage Gucci

2010-03-27T01:04:00.002Z

It's always good to know that you're spending your shekels on stuff that's actually worth the money.

Check out this link for valuing vintage Gucci

http://vintagefashionnews.com/

Edwin x

Vintage Clothing around the UK

2010-03-25T15:32:00.002Z

I am harvesting and collecting the names and postcodes of as many vintage clothing shops in the UK as possible.

Can you help me?

If you could email edwin@blindlemonvintage.co.uk with just the name and postcode of your local friendly vintage store that would be superb. Am particulraly interested in hearing from those people in smaller towns, not just city folk!

Thanks y'all

Edwin x

Debrett's Guide for the Modern Gentleman

2009-12-29T14:01:00.005Z

What a book!

It was wrapped lovingly (and very well) for me for Christmas by a very stylish lady.

It was shaken then unwrapped by myself, and then devoured over the course of 2 hours. It's extremely well written, with diagrams and lists to accompany the text. The chapters are as follows;

Man At Work: from tailoring rules to boardroom success; Maintenance: from the barber's chair to the ultimate workout; At Home: from vinyl and audio-visual to stylish interiors; City Life: from top tables and tipping to opera and art; Time Off: from dinner jackets and denim to casinos and golf; Motoring: from essential maintenance to classic collectables; The Traveller: from sandy beaches to edible insects; Gastronomy: from the finest vintages to the gourmet kitchen; New Chivalry: from successful seduction to bedroom behaviour

Everything there for the modren gentleman. From suits to seduction, from hi-fi to haircuts.

Simply essential.

(thank you Hayley)

The Great Cardiff Clothes Swap

2009-08-01T18:22:00.000+01:00

Sunday 20th September ses the inaugural Great Cardiff Clothes Swap at Wales Millennium Centre, inconjunction with Blind Lemon Events and Tenovus.

For more details please click through to

www.greatcardfiffclothesswap.co.uk

Menswear is needed too boys, don't think this isn't for you!

Edwin on the radio

2009-07-14T20:09:00.004+01:00

I was lucky enough to be invited onto BBC Radio Wales' morning programme with Jamie and Louise.

To talk about ties and sartorial personality.

Listen to the programme JUST HERE

You need to go to about 1 hour and 18 minutes in.

Edwin x

www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk

Blind Lemon's Wardobe

2009-06-12T20:25:00.000+01:00

Update on the issue of personal shopping for men.

We're live with Blind Lemon's Wardrobe

A site dedicated to helping men get better dressed and understand a little more about what style and fashion is all about.

Wardrobe Edits

Style Consultancy

Personal Shopping

Grooming Advice

Gift vouchers available.

Check out the site Blind Lemon's Wardrobe and tell me what you think!

Edwin x

www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk

my good friend; Huw Watkins

2009-06-01T20:32:00.000+01:00

The other day Mr watkins looked so good I had to take a photo!

He's wearing a vintage Crombie suit, a brown pinstripe, with vintage braces (he bought from me!). You can't see them but his brown brogues look superb and the Prince of Wales check shirt looks terrific.

All topped off with a pocket square and a nice vintage tie.

A true dapper Dan.

Edwin x

www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk

The Spring Run

2009-01-13T17:38:00.004Z

Hiya

What follows is a list of all dates for the Spring run of vintage fashion fairs.

8th February - Cardiff

15th February - Bristol

22nd February - Exeter

15th March - Cheltenham

For more info and a chance to buy discounted tickets please click HERE.

books on vintage fashion

2009-01-11T01:09:00.003Z

try this out for size

you can get serious discounts on books on vintage clothing!

Or try your own dedicated Blind Lemon Vintage store. Just HERE

A semi round-up of the year.

2008-12-31T14:48:00.003Z

Well. We did 8 Fairs this year, two each in Bristol, Cardiff, Cheltenham and Exeter.

Bristol is always good, so's Cardiff. Cheltenham and Exeter are improving every time. I guess that's the difference between a large city and a smaller one. We've a new venue for Exeter this year, we're off to the University campus to try Devonshire Hall. Should be cool.

We trialled a prize draw in the autumn season, giving away £150 of vouchers to spend on vintage anything from the fair. there have been some very pleased people.

Imagine - paying £4.50 to get in the Fair and then winning £150 in vouchers! A whole new wardrobe for the price of entry. No wonder we're continuing this in 2009.

Footfall at the Fairs ranged from 400 in Exeter to 960 in Cardiff, it's pleasing to see we're kinda holding our own in these times of credit crunch. Vintage clothing being of course superlative value for money in so many ways. So thanks for coming along.

We've a new development for 2009, an amazon book store dedicated to all books vintage. Clothing I mean, not dusty tomes leather-bound.

For this check out this link HERE - up to 30% off for you and a much wider selection than I can manage in my website shop.

Here's to good fairs in 2009!

double-breasted vs single

2008-10-10T11:15:00.001+01:00

The standard thing is;

single breasted for slim bokes

and double for the more rotund gentleman.

Not necessarily always true.

I have a spanking 1940s brown and orange pinstripe that is double-breasted, and I'm slim. All my other suits are single-breasted. I wanted to do a little investigation to find out why these styles developed.

Firstly, a definition.

Check out this link - here

Then this one - here

And then I found this link from wikipedia, this explains everything you needed to know about suits. Click this one - here

Happy reading!

Edwin isn't scared to dress up

2008-09-28T13:01:00.005+01:00

Sometimes my stallholders set me a challenge.

Most of the time I agree.

Check out the photos of me in a repro hose and doublet, from Cheltenham Vintage Fashion Fair.

Thank God there are no pictures of me in the tight leather hotpants!

Edwin x

zoot suits

2008-08-25T15:24:00.004+01:00

Originally developed in Harlem in the 1930s, the Zoot suit was a rebellious expression with an extravagant personal styling.

The suit consists of a high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed pegged trousers (called tramas) and a long coat (called the carlango) with wide lapels and wide padded shoulders. Often zoot suiters wear a felt hat with a long feather (called a tapa or tanda) and pointy, French-style shoes (called calcos).

Proper dandy.

This one was made for me by Gilly Woo, a talented dressmaker and corsetiere from Bristol, to an original pattern. It's made from a brown and cream pinstripe with an electric turquoise lining. I teamed it with a repro 1930s tie and handkerchief combo, a brown fedora and two-tone correspondents.

The photo is from a 20s and 30s event in Bristol, where for the first time I was a model. Scared? Yup.

Edwin x

are you a size 10 shoe?

2008-08-15T13:10:00.002+01:00

If so then go to www.ebay.co.uk and search for seller ID - vintagefashionfairs

I have a whole pile of men's shoes; Church's, Loakes, Cheaneys and Grensons and more.

Light tan, dark tan, black.

Brogues, Oxford toe-caps and semi-brogued Oxford toe-caps.

They'll be finishing in a couple of days and more, so check them out.

Edwin x

new shoes, new shoes

2008-08-11T21:41:00.004+01:00

My latest purchase from eBay.

Size 10 Loake Eccentrics, in brown leather with a green tweed vamp.

Unbelievably amazing in every way, hardly worn either.

I think that a man's shoes are one of the most important parts of his grooming and dress. For starters your shoes keep your feet dry and firmly on the ground. Secondly, people DO look at your shoes to gauge a little about you.

Smartly worn shoes, appropriate to your outfit, say that you pay attention to detail, appreciate the finer things in life and care what others think of you. this isn't to say that you're vain in any way, just smart.

I will wear these with brown trousers or a nicely faded indigo jean.

Top notch.

Edwin x

The first one

2008-08-05T17:26:00.003+01:00

Hiya.

Been brewing these thoughts for a while.

Firstly. To blog or not to blog. I think so.

Secondly. What to blog. I have been wanting to write a book on men's fashion for a while now and I think that starting this way will allow me to order the thoughts and share experiences.

So.

I have a keen interest in fashion. I organise Vintage Fashion Fairs across the UK, http://www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk/. At these Fairs I also sell men's vintage clothing and accessories and now have a fine collection of suits, ties and shirts. I also believe I have developed a certain "style" and now have a eye for what goes together as an outfit and what doesn't.

I would like to blog these thoughts and ideas and share them.

Along with grooming tips, product reviews and photos of things both good and bad.

Edwin x