New Website Launch for Vintage Bizarre!

Vintage Merchandise for Modern Life

I’m delighted to announce the launch of my new business venture, Vintage Bizarre.   I’ve been working solid on developing the website this week so hope you enjoy looking around.

As you will see from our About Us page, Vintage Bizarre is a joint venture between myself (Catwalk Creative Vintage) and my dear friend, Beth (Faux Brit).   Together we’re getting out-and-about with our vintage wares and selling at vintage fairs and local venues across the North West of England.

We also plan to do some vintage clothes parties under the title ‘Vintage Bizarre’s Mobile Closet‘ which should be lots of fun!  The party host receives a discount and special treats!

Sheer Fabric Trend 2010

The new website isn’t really about ’selling’ vintage at all, although we’ve placed several links back to our websites for anyone who isn’t able to visit us in person!  No,  Vintage Bizarre is more more about showcasing our range of merchandise and highlighting our selling venues.  It also provides us with the perfect opportunity to promote vintage.  One way we can do that, is through our favourite page, Fashion Trends 2010.  This is a fun way to show how vintage adapts so well to the latest catwalk trends.  In addition, it’s refreshing to see how cost effective purchasing vintage is compared to buying on the high street or forking out a months salary for a designer piece.  Why buy something you know lots of others have purchased before you?  Show your individual style and shop vintage!

Wearing vintage has become more mainstream over the last few years but there are lots of people who have never considered buying ‘vintage’ as an option.  Hopefully we aim to change that and hope you’ll visit our site regularly and keep up-to-date with what’s going on.  Please join us on Twitter.

We have lots of exciting things in the planning.  Our first event is the Didsbury Vintage & Craft Fair on the 20th February and then the following week we have the Vintage Village Fair in Stockport.  Both venues are really smart and in great locations so we’re hoping to meet lots of enthusiastic customers!  The Vintage Village Fair will be held on the second and last Sundays of the month so it’s a great opportunity.  It’s nice to have a regular selling venue at last!

Alison at work in her salon

Last, but definitely not least, we’ll be at Joe Petrillo in West Didsbury, Manchester. We’ll be there on the first weekend of every month, starting from the 6th March.  I’m looking forward to this event the most.  Not only is it a ’stones throw’ away from my home but it’s in such a great location with lots of passing trade.  West Didsbury is home to lots of independent shops, bars and bistros so when you’ve finished your vintage shopping, you can saunter along to any one of the eateries for refreshments and watch the world go by.

My sister is coming along to provide customers with vintage makeovers.  I can’t wait!!!  All money raised by Alison is being donated to the MacMillan Cancer Support charity.  Alison has many strings to her bow.  Not only is she my twin (lucky girl!!), but she’s a top makeup artist, beauty therapist and one of the few qualified permanent makeup technicians in the North West.  She also rides a huge motorcycle.  I forget which model exactly but it’s BIG!!!!  She and her husband take part in lots of charity motorcycle rides and they do such a stellar job at raising money.  Please send a donation to Alison here: http://www.justgiving.com/bwr-north-west.  Every penny counts so thank you so much!

Visit the Alison McMath Beauty Clinic.

Please sign up for one of our email newsletter and keep up-to-date with the goings on at Vintage Bizarre!

Vintage Bizarre! New selling venue for Catwalk Creative Vintage!

Stella's such a vintage fashionista! Here she wears an array of Catwalk Creative Vintage merchandise.

I’ve been way too busy to post anything on Catwalk Threads this week so apologies for my absence!   I’ve had lots of planning to do along with a major New Year sort through my vintage inventory.  I’m currently running a sale in my Etsy shop so things have been selling fast!

Phew!  What a week!  It’s been a good one though I must say!  In addition to the busy work schedule, I’m delighted to report that from the 6th March 2010, you’ll be able to purchase vintage merchandise in person from Catwalk Creative.  At the moment I sell exclusively on-line from my website and from Etsy.   However, I’ve wanted to sell locally for the longest time and lucky for me, a fantastic opportunity has come along care of the lovely Mr Joe Petrillo.  As luck would have it, Joe has recently opened a hair salon on Burton Road, West Didsbury.  In addition to providing Manchester’s finest with the best hair styles in town, he also aims to promote local artists, photographers and vintage fashion professionals like me!  So, I’ll be selling my vintage wares from Joe’s premises on the first weekend of every month (to start with).  It’s a lovely space with a huge shop window, just off the main high street.  Perfect!

Joe is an internationally recognised hairdressing expert and nominated Northern Hairdresser of the Year four times.  High praise indeed – but don’t take my word for it, check out his website for more information and a price list.  Thanks to Joe,  I’m able to offer my vintage wares to all those fabulous vintage fashionistas in and around the Manchester area.  Here’s the details in full!

60's Brown Cloche Bucket Hat from Faux Brit

If you’re in South Manchester on the first weekend of the month (and every month thereafter), I hope you’ll be a regular visitor to our new selling venue.  I’ve joined forces with fellow Etsy seller and vintage enthusiast, Beth, of Faux Brit. Our monthly soiree will be known as ‘Vintage Bizarre!‘

We aim to provide a relaxed, boutique-like atmosphere with a range of clothing, accessories, linens, jewellery and home ware from the 1930’s to 1980’s which we’ve sourced from the UK and USA.  Beth is an American girl living in Manchester so this will be a true cross-Atlantic venture!

We’re operating from one room only so it’s small but perfectly formed!  As mentioned, there’s a large store front window which will display a couple of mannequins dressed in vintage attire.  Weather permitting, you’ll find smaller clothes rails outside, packed with vintage and retro blouses and shirts.  Inside will be cabinets and shelving to display the smaller items such as jewellery, scarves, vintage sewing patterns and linens.  There will also be a further 6ft clothes rail inside full of unique vintage frocks, tunics and outerwear.

Quality is key at Vintage Bizarre!

The key-word at ‘Vintage Bizarre!‘ will be quality!  You’ll find the very best examples of vintage attire so all our clothing comes laundered, dry-cleaned (where necessary) and pressed.  It’s ready to wear straight away!   You can also try our clothes on in comfort, using the changing facilities downstairs which includes a full-length mirror and seating.

So, come and visit us on the 6th March 2010 (10am-5pm). We promise you a warm welcome and will do our best to fit you up with your dream vintage outfit or gift.  (Payment will be cash only on the day).

On the opening day, Vintage Bizarre! will be selling raffle tickets in aid of the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.  We hope all visitors will contribute to this appeal with tickets at £1 each.  The draw will take place on Wednesday 10th March with the winner notified by email or telephone.  The lucky winner will receive a joint prize in the form of a £30 gift voucher from Catwalk Creative and a £30 gift voucher from Faux Brit.  Use the vouchers to purchase vintage goodies from our Etsy shops or alternatively, save them to use on your next visit to Vintage Bizzare! on the 3rd April.  Listings on Etsy are noted in US dollars ($) so don’t worry, we’ll calculate the equivalent monetary value to £30.  Full details provided to the winner on the 10th March (gift certificates are not redeemable for cash).

Visit 'Vintage Bizarre!' on the first weekend of the month

Finally, for those who aren’t familiar with the leafy suburb of West Didsbury, we’re situated on the high street (Burton Road) which is full of independent shops, cafe bars and bistros.  So, when you’re finished with your vintage shopping, you can take refreshment at one of the local eateries and watch the world go by!

Location:
Joe Petrillo (side entrance)
226 Burton Road
West Didsbury
Manchester
M20 2LW

Tel (Joe Petrillo): 0161 434 9179

Directions/Map: http://vintagebizarre.com/Contact

Please refer to my ‘Stay in Touch‘ page for contact details.

STRETCH your way to winter health – 1950’s Style!

With my thoughts firmly on a New Year fitness regime (one that I’m sticking to this time!), I realised what a mind-blowing choice of hi-tech fitness clothing (and equipment) we have available in 2010. In addition, the markets are always saturated this time of year with the obligatory ‘celebrity’ fitness DVDs – tres boring!

So lets saunter on back some 55 years to see how gals liked to keep fit.  Cute aren’t they?  This is a fun fitness article I came across recently in the British magazine ‘Illustrated’. Entitled ‘STRETCH your way to winter health‘ and dated November 1955. It shows a bevy of lovely ladies all in various exercise poses.

Photographed at the Y.W.C.A., London by Roland Skerrit. Shorts by Londonus, knitwear by Spectator, Sports and Finigans.

There’s not a spot of Lycra between them (just a fabulous Vinyl floor)! Check out the wonderful 50’s knitwear and notice they’re all wearing bright red lipstick too! A girl wouldn’t go out without it you know!

For balance and co-ordination

Tone stomach and back

The funniest and most contradictory thing about this magazines ‘angle on fitness‘ is an article on the previous page entitled ‘Can alcohol warm you up? It’s basically a questions and answer guide written by the ‘Illustrated Doctor’ and the piece includes the following:

Q. Is alcohol a food?
A. Yes, but it’s expensive. Suppose you need three thousand calories a day. You can get the lot in the form of gin and your “food bill” would run at about £4 a day.

An ounce of whisky gives you about the same amount of fuel and energy that you would get from a quarter of a pint of milk. So it’s crazy to regard spirits of any kind as a food. Beer and stout have food value – in the non-alcoholic substances they contain. A pint of either contains calorie value equal to two eggs.

Q. Is it good for my health?
A. No and yes. No, if you think it has any value as a food or a stimulant or a cold cure; yes, if you take it in moderation. Alcohol in small quantities does allay anxiety and reduce tension. So after a drink before a meal you have a better appetite. After a drink last thing at night, you will get to sleep more easily. Therefore, as a drinking policy for winter health, watch these points:

DON’T HAVE A DRINK
IF you are driving.
IF you have a gastric or duodenal ulcer.
IF your doctor has forbidden alcohol for any reason.

HAVE A DRINK
IF you like it.
IF you feel it does you good.
IF you are in the right place with the right people and clear in the head about the amount you can take.

How life has changed  . . . . . . . . . .

Fraudulent Label Switching: What to Look Out for by Couture Allure Vintage

Experienced sellers of vintage clothing (and collectors too), may or may not be aware of fraudulent label switching which is prevalent on sites such as eBay.  It’s worrying to think that people will go to any lengths in order to deceive the public by removing designer labels from unwearable vintage clothing and sewing them into other pieces in order to pass them off as the genuine thing.

I implore anyone that’s involved in the buying, selling or collecting of vintage to read the following article.  It’s a fantastic, detailed piece written by fellow Vintage Fashion Guild member Jody, of Couture Allure Vintage.

Whether you’re an experienced buyer or completely new to the world of vintage, it’s imperative that you read the information contained in Beware of Fraudulent Label Switching.  It would also help a great deal if you would spread the word about fraudulent label switching by linking to Jody’s blog post, Tweeting it or even writing about it in your own blog post.  It’s amazing how quickly word spreads on the World Wide Web!  Please do your bit. 

Jody of Couture Allure Vintage has been involved in the vintage clothing industry for years and is very well respected.  You only need view her website to see that she clearly ‘knows her stuff’ and has acquired an amazing amount of knowledge over the years.  In addition, Jody has spent a great deal of time researching this subject so please take just a few minutes to read her article and leave a comment too.  Please tell everyone you know!  And remember, the next time you find yourself drooling over a vintage designer garment, ask yourself whether the label is genuine.  Make sure you follow the guidelines and just be aware.  Let’s get clued up on these fraudulent sellers and stop this practice now!

Your Chance to Win Big with LuShae Jewelry!

Here’s some great news to kick-off 2010 from Lushae Jewelry.  If you’d like the chance of winning up to $5000 and have a blog, website or social network page, simply display one of their badges and be automatically entered each and every month so long as the badge is displayed.  And, if that wasn’t enough, they’re also offering all entrants a 15% discount from their fabulous jewelry range!

Jewelry art designs offers a unique range of authentic sterling silver jewelry with a wide range of precious and semi precious gemstones.  They follow celebrity and fashion jewelry trends sourcing the most contemporary high grade pieces available ensuring unmatched quality and value.  They also operate a number of other retail websites in the fashion industry and have been operating online since 1999.

Jewelry art designs are a privately owned company and are genuinely committed to providing an excellent buying experience.  The entire product range is backed by a returns and exchange policy.

Here’s a few of my own personal favourites which are vintage inspired pieces.

Chelsea Leaf Design Pendant $71

Amethyst Wonder Pendant $69

Soleil Expressions Pendant $70

Prices quoted are correct at the time of posting.

Lushae Jewelry.

Little Red Riding Hood with a Twist by Catwalk Creative

I’ve been playing around with some winter looks and came up with this modern twist on Little Red Riding Hood.  The key elements are of course the hat and cape but all the basics you may already have in your wardrobe.

Most of us will have a simple black skirt and perhaps the black ankle boots too.  Get yourself some red opaque tights to coordinate with your cape and hey presto!

Vintage is always my first choice when shopping so take a look over at Etsy.com and see if you can find yourself a similar cape and perhaps a little red hat too!  The cape shown here is from Beyond Retro.

To complete the look you’re going to need a very large bag.  It’s an absolute necessity for carrying all your essentials to granny’s house and of course you can use it to fend off the big bad woolf, should you happen to come across one on your travels!

Little Red Riding Hood with a modern twist.

Image care of Looklet.com

Time to Shop Vintage Online for Christmas!

Don’t fancy shopping in the miserable rain?  Fed up with the hustle and bustle on the high street?  Well don’t worry.  There’s still plenty of time to purchase all your Christmas gifts online.   Armchair shopping has got to be the least stressful method of shopping, so go on – pour yourself a ‘hot toddy‘ and relax in front of your computer.  Feeling better now?

I’ve purchased all my Christmas gifts online this year and most have been the ‘vintage‘ variety.  If you want to give a unique gift this year, buy vintage!  It’s all the rage darling!

Love Vintage - A Christmas gift from my husband!

I’ve bought a range of goodies including vintage scarves, cuff links, jewellery and a couple of special treats for myself.  My husband has bought me the book, Love Vintage, by fellow Vintage Fashion Guild member Nicole Jenkins of Circa Vintage Clothing.  Nicole’s based in Melbourne but I secured myself a copy of this spectacular book online, and so can you!  Just click here for information on how to buy.

Why not join my Facebook Page?  Fans hear first about promotions and special offers.  Order from my Etsy boutique BEFORE the last day of posting for Christmas and receive FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING.  You must be a facebook fan to qualify.  Please contact me via my Etsy boutique and confirm which items you’d like to purchase.  I’ll reserve them for you and remove the shipping charge.  Simple!

Below I’ve shown a handful of party attire now available from my Etsy boutique.  There’s nothing like black and gold to make a dramatic statement and get you in the festive mood!

For anyone that’s not used Etsy before, signing up is free and very simple.  Non UK residents must pay Catwalk Creative Vintage by PayPal.  You don’t need a PayPal account to pay by this method but you do need a valid debit or credit card.  It’s fast, safe and secure.   Click here for information on how to pay on Etsy.

1970's Brocade Jacket by Vera Mont and Black Cocktail Dress by Melbray of London

1980's Sequin Dress by Rina Z and 1970's Gold Satin Brocade Dress with Rhinestone Buttons

THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO SHOP ONLINE FOR CHRISTMAS 2009!!!

Last Posting Dates for International Airmail from the UK:

Friday 4th December: South America, New Zealand and Australia.
Thursday 10th December: Japan, USA, Canada and Eastern Europe.
Friday 11th December: Western Europe.

UK Last Posting Dates:

Second Class: Friday 18th December 2009.
First Class: Monday 21st December 2009.
Special Delivery: Wednesday 23rd December 2009

The Vintage Edition at The Fashion Birdcage – Out Now!

The Vintage Edition

I’m delighted to announce that you can now find The Vintage Edition of The Fashion Birdcage.  Just click on the picture and you’ll find my interview with Amy Mayberry of Viva Vintage Clothing.  There’s also a whole section dedicated to genuine vintage clothing and accessories and read my article entitled ‘Learning to be a Vintage Clothing Connoisseur‘.

I really hope you enjoy the read.

Spread the love for vintage!

Photograph courtesy of Listit Cafe.

Vintage Delights from the Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG)

One of my proudest moments was being accepted as a trade member of the Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG).    For anyone that doesn’t know about the VFG, it’s an international organisation set up in 2002 for vintage fashion professionals with members in America, Canada, Australia and the UK.  Just to quote directly from the website, their mission is to:

1. Protect the interests of vintage fashion vendors and encourage professional practices.

2. Promote, establish, and encourage among our members ethical behaviour and professional standards of expertise about vintage fashion, in order to reinforce the buyers’ and collectors’ confidence that the age, style, details and condition of the items are accurately represented.

3. Raise awareness of vintage fashion and provide a forum to bring together buyers and sellers.

4. Establish a central educational resource available to both buyers and sellers.

5. Create a positive environment for and enhance the image of vintage clothing.

6. Encourage the conservation and wearing of vintage fashion to preserve the history, availability and survival of vintage clothing in future years.  The VFG discourages the habitual practice of modifying or altering existing vintage to suit the current trend.

7. Position vintage clothing as a viable, attractive and environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional fashion.

Please visit the Vintage Fashion Guild website to find out more.

Just to ‘wet your appetite‘, here’s a small selection of vintage merchandise currently available from my learned friends at the VFG.  You’ll find links to each item at the end of this piece.

1. 1940's Rhinestone Dress Clips (Bonton Vintage), 2. Vogue Pattern Book (Pinky-a-GoGo), 3. 1940's Ceramic Earrings (The Spectrum)

4. 1970's Clutch Purse (Viva Vintage Clothing), 5. 1950's ONS Paisley Sheath Dress (Shygarden), 6. 1950's Lowy & Mund Clutch and Coin Purse (BC Treasure Trove)

7. 50's Taffeta Dress (Vintage Devotion), 8. 70's Grey Suede Mules (Vintage Chic Spa Boutique), 9. 70's Peacock Blue Jacket (Morning Glorious)

10. 80's Puff Sleeve Party Frock (Catwalk Creative Vintage), 11. 1950's Opalescent Sweater (Vintage Devotion), 12. 1950's Party Dress (Mags Rags)

I implore anyone with an interest in the history of fashion to take a look at the Vintage Fashion Guild website.  There’s so much available, from the wonderful Label Resource department to the History of Women’s Hats.  Click on the VFG Members logo link (top right-hand corner) to find more.  But beware!  You could be there for some time!

Click on the links below to get your vintage fashion fix!

1. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34288045

2. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Vogue-Pattern-Book-1948-1949-Peplum-Suit-Dress_W0QQitemZ120491172604

3. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34192269

4. http://www.vivavintageclothing.com/blacksnakeskin1970sclutchpurse/#3

5. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290369261523

6. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34163705

7. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FULL-SKIRT-LUCY-Vintage-50s-TAFFETA-HOLIDAY-DRESS-L_W0QQitemZ300365550390

8. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34059563

9. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27556819

10. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=34199608

11. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RHINESTONES-OPALESCENT-CABACHONS-Vintage-50s-SWEATER_W0QQitemZ300365094229

12. http://magsrags.myshopify.com/products/vintage-50s-sheer-rockabilly-full-skirt-party-dress-s

From Rags to Bags: Christmas Treats for my Family and Cats!

I’m one of those people that LOVES Christmas.  I can’t help it!   I was brought up in a family of Christmas lovers so it’s tradition to plan the festivities well in advance.   This year I’m buying all vintage and recycled for my loved ones and with Christmas not too far away, it’s been so very tempting to buy everything in sight.   There’s so many adorable goodies available and shopping online is now so much easier and safer than in past years.

The Butterflies Tote Bag

One of the things I like to do is buy a small gift for my guests to open after Christmas dinner.  My daughter loves to hand these out and it’s just a lovely way to end to the meal.   Let’s hope my Christmas day guests aren’t reading this otherwise the surprise is over!

So I decided on these sweet butterfly tote bags, available at From Rags to Bags.  They’re made from 100%  unbleached cotton and such amazing value at only £6 each.  In addition From Rags to Bags is offering free worldwide shipping throughout November.

Cute Catnip Toys!

I also bought three adorable catnip toys (one each for my own cats and one for my sister-in-law’s cat).  I couldn’t possibly leave anyone out!  Alison tells me they’re jam-packed full of catnip so we should be in for some after dinner fun once the cats have ripped the paper off and done a couple of turns!  Alison makes these using recycled fabrics and they come in floral, plain or checked.   I can definitely recommend From Rags to Bags.  I guarantee you’ll receive the best in customer service and a super-quick dispatch too.

There’s lots of other vintage and recycled merchandise available.  Alison has a lovely selection of vintage evening bags which will take you through the party season and beyond!  Here are a few of my personal favourites but be quick, this shipping offer won’t last forever!  Get yourself over to From Rags to Bags right now and bag yourself a bargain or three!

Go on! Treat yourself! A selection of goodies available at From Rags to Bags

BTW! There’s even more to choose from at From Rags to Bags on Etsy .  Please note: the shipping offer applies ONLY to purchases made directly from the website of From Rags to Bags at http://fromragstobags.com

HAPPY SHOPPING!