There are many things that can be learnt about fashion history by studying surviving garments, but there is one question that I always get asked when I show my own personal research collection which is really tricky to answer simply by looking, or by touching the fabric with your fingers. How does it feel to... Continue Reading →
Second Hand September
I love clothes and, as a result, I have a lot of them. Although they are essentially practical items, designed to protect me from the elements (and the unwanted attention that going without would bring!), I don't really buy them for that purpose. I'm pretty much a collector of garments, the way some folk collect... Continue Reading →
Love ur Look ‘pin-up pop-up shop’ 2018
Yesterday I went to visit the annual Pin-Up Pop-Up Shop organised by Ronke Fashola, the brains behind vintage-inspired ethical fashion brand Love ur Look. Each year she organises a pop-up featuring a selection of UK independent fashion brands with a vintage style, where you can meet the makers and try on a gorgeous selection of... Continue Reading →
Five fab spring dresses with POCKETS
Everyone who wears dresses prefers one with pockets, right? Even if you carry a handbag most of the time it's always nice to have the option of keeping your phone/money/keys close at hand, but plenty of designers and manufacturers overlook this useful feature. It may be more expensive to produce womenswear with pockets, but I... Continue Reading →
Love ur Look ‘pin-up pop-up shop’ 2017
Last June, I visited a lovely pin-up pop-up shop at The Old Truman Brewery in east London in order to try on a few Love ur Look dresses that I had been ogling online. It was loads of fun and so, when I heard Ronke was running it again, I knew I had to make... Continue Reading →
March Lust List: Revival
This month's Lust List doesn't have an alliterative theme - partly because I couldn't think of one, and partly because I didn't want to end up having to do that every month - so instead I've chosen an independent retailer to make my selections from. I was introduced to Revival Retro and its owner, Rowena... Continue Reading →
Bettie Page Lingerie, by Playful Promises
Lingerie lovers may have noticed that those hard-working folk at Playful Promises have been even more productive than usual over the last year. Seeing as they're always busy, this is pretty impressive work! As well as coming up with designs for their main line and curve ranges, plus their mini-brand Peek & Beau, they also... Continue Reading →
Underpinnings of Inspiration
I'm the first to admit that I've been a bit quiet on the underwear blogging front so far this year. It's not that I haven't been doing lots of underwear-related things though - far from it! - I just haven't had time to write about them yet. Following The Underpinnings Museum's successful Kickstarter campaign, a... Continue Reading →
Fashion history with William Vintage
Founder of the ultimate vintage boutique, William Vintage, there must be very little that William Banks-Blaney doesn't know about twentieth century fashion history. Christened "The Vintage King' by British Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and The New York Times, William travels the globe for the ultimate in vintage and hand-picks every single William Vintage piece. Now an... Continue Reading →
Christmas Quiz: Don We Now Our Gay Apparel!
Regular readers will know that I've got a bit of a thing for old clothes. Whether it's rummaging through vintage shops or exploring museums and archives, I've come to realise that I'm a bit of a fashion history fanatic. I'm by no means an expert, but meeting other interested folk through organisations like the Costume... Continue Reading →