Savvy fashion finds

Its usually gemma that sets the tone for salvage fashion on the blog, but i have recently picked up a few great items and thought i’d share. It was also a welcome excuse to try and take nice pictures of clothes without having a model – not sure if i’ve quite achieved it though!

May i just point out that the lovely vintage hangers peeping out were a skip rescue by my bin-loving friend Ally. This vintage Jaeger jacket was a few quid in the local charity shop. it had massive shoulder pads so they had to go, but otherwise it was waiting to be loved.

This grey linen Jigsaw dress was from the London charity chain (an oxymoron?) Fara. I was so impressed by their careful selection, decent prices (and by that i mean charging what items are worth), and shop layout. Going through a grey and yellow phase…so glad i can now don my mustard wedges to glam up this dress! On reflection, the dress probably could have done with an iron pre-shoot!

Ok so this isn’t actually a charity find but it is second-hand from a great wee online shop called vintagechild. I rarely buy clothes online but this bird-print, mid-waist dusky pink dress from around 1950 is my favourite wardrobe item ever! It is ultra-chilled to wear – any occasion.

I have a voluminous scarf collection, and am rarely to be seen without one come rain or shine. I love this italian silk poppy print scarf, perfect for summer days.

I am getting lots of wear out of this one – a lightweight Ralph Lauren scarf that seems to go with just about anything.

Had to add in this one – discovered in my grandmother’s cubby hole as she called it. Her original ‘hair in rollers’ scarf, i clearly remember her wearing it. But now its mine! luckily she isn’t online herself to find out i nicked it. Though she does often say ‘i can hear the grass grow and can see to belfast’ so i guess my sins could well find me out where she is concerned….

Get skirty

I’ve mentioned one of my blog crushes, Miss James at Bleubird vintage before. She does a thread called Mama style which is worth checking out for those uninspired dressing days! I find if I keep an inspiring pic in my head, it spurs me on to make an effort in the morning! Check her out for lots of vintage life and fashion inspiration and bouts of downright jealousy!

It’s been a while since we show cased some Salvage sister fashion finds, so here’s a collection of skirts for you. Had my Salvage sister over in the summer so didn’t even have to fall out with the husband to get some of these shots!

The skirt, so up-or-down beat, whatever you want it to be depending on what goes above and below it.

First up, Im in love with navy at the moment, and grey, and navy and grey..

Navy Pencil skirt Cancer Research shop Belmont road

High waisted Navy Pencil Thrifted in Dublin

That reminds me, have been meaning to tell you about my shopping trip in Dublin months ago.. will do. Heres another  Dublin find and a shot in our trendy hotel!

Denim pencil thrifted in Dublin

Sisters choice.. mustard and tourquise.. love.

Mustard skirt - Urban outfitters

And finally a reworked number I got from the fabulous Fashion Souk, catch them at Belfast fashion week next week!

Oh and the bracelet is from MK Vintageusa at St Georges market, and the necklace watch from Liberty Blue on Lombard Street.

Pleated skirt

Pleated skirt

Carvela wedges from Deja Vu

There are some great designer second hand shops in Ni, including Deja Vu on the Lisburn road, read more here, and theres also Rich Rags on Bloomfield avenue who fabulously supported our Charity Swap and Fashion show last Dec.

And just to remind you that we did have a summer here’s where the skirt went that day

Stormont Park Walkies

Go fetch!

 

 

Meadows Festival 2011

Last weekend was the wonderful meadows festival, a veritable selection of bric-a-brac, vintage, antique and hippy stalls, plus some great music and eateries. Running since 1972, it achieves a real community vibe every year, and seems to be developing and growing each year alongside the current trend towards thrifting, up-cycling and ‘make-do-and-mend’ culture.

The vintage and second-hand clothes were cheap and abundant….

…lots of tat to choose from; yes, that does say 10p an item! Plus some pretty handmade bits and bobs…

..somewhere very funky to rest your weary limbs…

…plus lots of other wares for the crowds.

So what bargains came home with me? Firstly i was pretty delighted with these 1970s lampshades at £2 for the pair

These little circular Italian pics were 25p each

A lovely vintage Tala flour sifter for £3

And some pretty vintage lace for £2

I’ll be back to showcase my wardrobe finds soon, hopefully to receive the fashion-sista seal of approval!?

On a shoe-string

A few years back, i decided that cheap shoes were a bad idea, and committed myself to buying only good quality, well made footwear. No easy task when it comes to second-hand shops. I have often bought shoes that look good in the shop, and the moment you step out in them you realise why someone put them into their charity bag. So i thought i would share with you my recent successes – two great pairs of shoes during one charity-shop foray.

Gotta love these Converse mid-calf orange laced boots…£9

These sheepskin-lined leather ankle boots in the bag for a pleasing £10.

Rethink, Revamp, Restyle.. all after work!

Sigh – I’m high and drunk on my three blissful hours spent this evening at the first workshop in Ballynafeigh community centre by Rethink, Revamp, Restyle – an amazing collaboration by SS favourite ‘The Fashion Souk’ and Belfast Council. The ethos is on creating and ‘repurposing’ items to prevent waste and give them a new life of usefulness!

After a mad dash from work I found myself with lots of lovely ladies making cushions out of old jumpers and shirts – in a flash, whilst helping to reduce the fourteen double decker bus loads of clothes which are thrown into the waste every WEEK!

jumper cushion

shirt cushion

jumper embellishment

shirt embellishment

The fabulous team of demonstrators poked us into action and inspiration with a quick how to, and left us to wade into piles of old clothes and come out with a unique creation! No better way to spend an evening I tell you, I haven’t felt this relaxed in so long, with the added delight of new additions to my couch.. the husband probably wont share the sentiment that we needed a few more cushions though! I’m  quite pleased with how I matched them into my living room scheme..

My only problem was cushion envy, so many juicy little creations –  and the fact I forgot my camera, photos of the next one to come. Oh but BBC newsline did turn up, so keep them peeled on the regional news!!

Jealous? Check out the Rethink, Revamp, Restyle group on facebook to see what slots are left that you could sign up for. It’s old furniture revamping next time, can’t wait!

Something for the weekend..

There’s something about ‘Style magazine of the Sunday Times.. I love it, and hate it. The narcissistic, no holes barred attitude that oozes through its hedonistic, super cool pages is just, well, addictive. A dear friend kept me the 23/01 edition, to update me on a website which could be of help to any budding Salvage Sista.. www.fashism.com.

Here you ditch the unreliable advice of your sweet friends, mother, boyfriend et al who will pretty much tell you anything to get you to go away, get out of the house/shop, shut-up.. and let the self appointed fashion critics of the internet help you out..

So throwing all caution and self consciousness to the wind I thought I’d seek their advice on my little christmas present I wrote about in this post.

Check out what they said here… I must say I think I got some worthwhile, applicable, helpful advice.. my favourite comment is “no, a denim jacket does not make anything cool..” mmmmph. tart.

On a lighter style note.. Do you like these one piece ski suits I acquired for a hen do Skiing in Scotland last weekend!

 

Souk and Frock Finds..

So a few sundays ago was profound in Belfast for any vintage loving, re-using, retro, pre-loved finder!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was out at ‘Frock around the Clock’ and ‘The Fashion Souk’.

You’ve seen lots of my Souk finds in previous posts, and here are a few of Sunday’s finds and photos.. and if this excites you.. this weekend could be EVEN jucier! Especially if you have a thing for homey vintage and retro comforts. The lovely founders of both events are running ‘home’ events..

The Home Souk launching this Saturday at the Europa hotel, by the fabulous Alyson of the Fashion Souk

The Retro Rooms Show (Vintage interiors and Design for the modern home) created by Frock around the Clock’s Becky is on this Sunday at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue

Teddy hat from the Fashion Souk

ear baby..

Treasure at Frock around the Clock

Circa Ceramics at 'Frock'

Style advise at 'frock'

MK Vintageusa at 'frock'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can’t wait for a busy foraging weekend!

Find Circa Ceramics and MKVintageusa on facebook.. Cant remember the name of the little hat creator.. does anyone know?

Frockin’ big day out..

Oh I’m all in a ‘flapper’! It’s a shopper’s delight this sunday in Belfast.  As well as the aforementioned Fashion Souk, ‘Frock around the Clock‘ pioneered by the fabulous Becky Moore is on this week at The Holiday Inn, Ormeau Road.

You can check out sneak peaks of her stallholders on facebook.

Personally, I’m on the hunt for a 20’s/ 30’s style flapper/shift dress.. love that era! The hats, the cropped hair, the red oxblood lips! If you’re not sure what to look for, you’ll get lots of ideas from all eras from the vintage clad ladies there..

Becky explains:

We bring together Irish vintage dealers and creative-designers to sell a fabulous array of vintage clothing and fashion accessories, jewellery, furniture, homewares, textiles and lace, dolls and bears, collectables, hand made items created from recycled vintage textiles, and much more.
Nowhere else in Northern Ireland can you find such a vast collection of quality vintage items dating from the early 1900s through to the 1980s, alongside perfectly restyled and recycled designs, all under one roof.

Why not make it a big day out, and hit the Fashion Souk AND the Frock around the Clock.. you are guaranteed to be draped with original goodies, and all whilst supporting local traders and making ethcial choices with your fashion feet..

I hope to bring you photos from my day out at both events… see you there! xx

‘Souk’ it and see!

What with so much number crunching to do these days after tax increases, exponential fuel prices.. blah blah blah, the good news is, in Belfast you can still get your fashion kicks without the guilt, self fladgelating or tesco blue stripe diets afterwards! Everyone knows, a sneaky little purchase is a stress reliever, and mood enhancer.. it’s proven! It does actually increase your ‘dopamine’ – natural high chemical in the brain!

The Fashion Souk is our very own monthly fair fashion market, and the brainchild of local green goddess Alyson McElroy Jones.

I’ll let the lovely founders explain more..

“A new year a new Souk!
The Fashion Souk is Northern Ireland’s only fair-fashion market, we continue to Build on the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle ethos, promoting ethical consumerism and informed shopping.
Supporting more then 50 designer/makers from across Ireland every month and with more than 60 stalls on offer The Fashion Souk offers gorgeous revamped, upcycled, previously loved and locally made fashion and has already become a monthly staple in the green fashionistas diary.”

Here I am with my some of my favourite people running a stall at the Souk’s ‘Humble Jumble’.. a fab way to weed out your wardrobe, and spend the day with good friends..

Humble Jumble

Hard work

Great for baby clothes too!

And here’s a few of my choice finds from the Souk of late..

The Christmas party dress

inspired by this Loris Doran no..

Workin it

The LBD

Work wardrobe - Classic Rouched blouse

work wardrobe - wrap dress. Chunky knit waistcoat - in!

The next Fashion Souk is at the Europa hotel on the 6th Feb 11 – 5 pm, I’m on the hunt for a vintage dress… See you there!

Find them on facebook for more details..

‘This season’s look’ – Jackets

For part 2 of our fashion hotspot, we bring to you 4 particularly pleasing jackets, fresh from edinburgh’s fine charity shop selection. Exhibit 1 came from a very random 2 week pop-up-shop in aid of the Conservative Party. I was delighted to purchase this green velvet beauty from Jigsaw for a mere £2! The next (rather uninformatively pictured) blue jersey jacket comes (originally) from Topshop – very current.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The collarless jacket works well with a simple scarf to adorn. I’m looking forward to trying out this dusky pink linen jacket come the summer. And finishing on a similarly summery note, this striped lightweight coat works well with anything.

A word about the photography. We have been really inspired by 2 particular blogs to experiment a bit with backgrounds, lighting and themes. I’d say we have a way to go before achieving anything as wonderful as Skiorta (see Gallery) or Bleubird Vintage, but thanks ladies for your top tips and beautiful pics.