Vintage blogs

This post is dedicated to all those hard working bloggers out there who come up with fantastic vintage blogs! It was very hard to choose, but here are a few of our favourites over at Alfies.


First up is Yesterday Girl. I love this blog, Jennie really loves, and is very knowledgeable about, vintage clothes and lifestyle. What more could you ask for, lots of nice pretty dresses and reading what this London based gal has been up to!




She's got great style!



Bleubird is a fantastic blog, so full of inspiration it's like our own vintage soap! Owner of Bleubird Vintage, this stylish lady has a wardrobe that I'm sure most of her readers envy! You can also keep track of Miss James's pregnancy along with adorable letters written to her unborn baby! A must-read for vintage lovers.




Welcome to Deluxeville is a new find for me, this is a great blog for lovers of mid century design. You can see Marys thrifty finds and lots of nice shots of her fabulous looking home! Very inspirational!


Take a look at her amazing house!



Leila from our very own Ninas Hair Parlour has a great blog, Welcome into my Vintage World This 60's and 70's loving hairdresser shows us some of her fantastic work and other creative projects!


Below is some of Leila's handiwork, fantastic Marcel waves!


Leila looking fabulous!


Lastly is vintage gal extraordinaire Fleur de Guerre's blog Diary of a Vintage Girl. This super glamorous 1940s pin ups blog is a brilliantly detailed with lots of fashion inspiration and handy tips for other enthusiasts!







We hope this has given you all some other great blogs to follow and love as much as we do here at Alfies, and maybe it might inspire you to start your own blog?

London 60s Week

This week sees the end of 'London 60s Week' which annually transforms the capital into the place to be for every lover of this exciting period of change, hedonism and optimism. People were used to living in post WW2 austerity throughout the 50s, so the recovery of the British economy in the 60s truly was something to celebrate.
You still have a chance to catch some of the great 60s events, just check the website for detailed information on what is going on.

www.london60sweek.co.uk

I think it is safe to say that the differences between the swinging 60s and its preceding decades are some of the strongest and most obvious in history, here are just a few facts I found pretty interesting...

- The 'Pill' becomes available on the NHS with a massive social impact, it set off a sexual revolution and helped change women's position in society.
- The Parliament authorizes a second BBC channel, and the development of colour television.
- Terence Conran opened the first Habitat store which introduced affordable furniture and household design.
- The first miniskirts were sold in Mary Quant's boutique 'Bazaar' in London. These were very liberating yet affordable which soon gave them a 'must have' status among women in the Western world.

Why not pay Alfies a visit to search for your very own favourites to add some swinging 60s touches to your life? Be it kitchenware, iconic design objects, original furniture, records, or delightful vintage clothes - Alfies has it all under one roof!

We also recommend a little break from shopping in Alfies' fantastic Rooftop Restaurant, and why not try a head turning hair-do courtesy of Nina's Vintage Hair Parlour?!

Original vintage 60s dresses from Persiflage

Collection of vintage shoes from Persiflage, some of them 60s

Glass lamp base with white shade made in Italy by Mazzega from Paolo Bonino

Pair of 1960s Italian occasional armchairs from Paolo Bonino

Pair of 1960s bronze base lamps made in the UK for a cruise ship from Paolo Bonino

Just a tiny selection of the great choice of records from Kevin Bargate's collection at Daumieres

Small selection of 60s kitchen ware at Manic Attic, there is a sale on until the end of September to make space for more amazing vintage finds!

Paloma Faith at T in The Park 2010

Photos taken from YouTube

Last week at T in the Park Paloma Faith performed wearing a stunning black backless gown from The Girl Can't Help It. We also loved her flame red cartoon-like hair piece! She looked amazing!

Watch her perform on YouTube by clicking here.

Changes in Alfies

We thought we would bring you up to speed with a number of changes in Alfies, we have some new additions to the market and some dealers have expanded.


Firstly James Hope on the second floor, James deals in European decorative art and design from late 19th to mid 20th Century. His bold paintings and ceramics make for a really stunning addition to the second floor. A must see for art enthusiasts.





Tin Tin Collectibles, who have a stand on the ground floor have expanded to the second floor where they stock exclusively antique and vintage luggage and travel accessories. There is a wide range of sizes and styles available.





Another dealer who has taken on an additional stand is Barry Landsman. His ground floor unit of British 18th and 19th Century watercolours has broadened to small pieces of furniture and other decorative items from the same period. You can find Barry's additional stand on the first floor.


Modo Italia have moved to a bigger space on the first floor occupying Bent Ply's previous stand. The bigger space has allowed for a great display area for their fantastic and unusual Italian furniture, art and ceramics.




Bent Ply have moved to their own shop on Lisson Grove, just seconds away from Alfies. The shop is a fantastic space and is perfect for their stock of avant garde 20th Century furniture. This is well worth a visit on your way either to or from Alfies.

Sex and The City 2

Yesterday I found a candy striped red and white dress in Deborah Woolf's beautiful shop. As it turns out it is the same dress Charlotte wore in Sex and The City 2. Amazing! It is not the exact dress, as you can see by the photos her dress was altered slightly and taken up one level of stripes, but it is by the same designer and is vintage.

This is an early 1980s or even late 1970s dress by designer Victor Costa in mint condition. This is a size 10. Deborah is selling this one for a snip at £250. If you are a Sex and the City fan this is the ultimate tribute to their impeccable on-screen wardrobe and absolutely perfect for summer! Buy it now before somebody else beats you to it!

Vintage Festival

This month is all about festivals and summer holidays! If you have been lucky enough to enjoy a sunny and mud free Glastonbury or are planning on attending one of the other numerous festivals both in the UK and abroad here is some vintage inspiration to help you stand out from the crowd!

From a pair of killer sunglasses, to a full on maxi dress, statement jewellery and sun hats, wearing a few key pieces of vintage is a great way to create a truly unique and individual style. Plus you won't catch anyone else in the same thing!

Not only is vintage great as most pieces are generally one-off, you are also buying something usually of a much higher quality than the high street and keeping clear of mass production. Wearing vintage may just be a style choice for some, but it's also a way to be green which many festivals such as the Secret Garden Party, Green Man, and Bestival also try to promote.

Here are our favourite vintage summer essentials (in no particular order):

1.Summer Playsuits
This one from Deborah Woolf Vintage has cute mini shorts to wear underneath!

2. Wedges
You have got to love these vintage Carvela green wedges, perfect to wear with a pretty summer dress! Also from Deborah Woolf Vintage.


3. Maxi Dresses
Stand out and look stunning in this bold red maxi dress from Persiflage.


4. Sunglasses
Add a bit of glamour with these amazing gold sunglasses from The Girl Can't Help It.

5. Hawaiian Shirts
The Girl Can't Help It has a huge range of summer shirts to brighten up the man in your life!


6.Statement Earrings
These ones are from the 1960s and are made from fish scales! Find them in Deborah Woolf Vintage.


This summer make sure to include some vintage pieces in your wardrobe! Not only will you recycle and promote brilliant craftsmanship, you'll look amazing too!

Stars and Stripes

American Independence Day or as the Americans call it, the Fourth of July, commemorates the United States independence form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776. It’s commonly celebrated with fireworks, parades and parties and is a great chance to indulge in the fantastic nostalgia that the American dream has instilled all over the world.

Think of the stars and stripes or Hollywood glamour as a great way to inspire a summer picnic or themed cocktail party.

Have a look here for some Alfies hand-picked inspiration:

A selection of American cocktail shakers, some with glasses and ice bowl.Robinson Antiques

Or why not introduce some American 50s style furniture into your home with these selection of chairs from Thirteen Interiors and The Upholstery Workshop.

Set of 4 American 1950's chrome dining chairs re-upholstered in red leatherette with white piping.Thirteen Interiors

A 1950's chair from a set of 6 chairs which has been re-upholstered by The Upholstery Workshop.

Or if you don't fancy hosting your own party, why not treat yourself to a Deluxe Rooftop burger with fries and a soda at the rooftop café?