Vintage Christmas Party Style

It's Christmas party season! Time to slip into your most ravishing dress and wear your dazzling accessories. Don't worry if your wardrobe lacks such festive glamour, at Alfies our vintage clothing dealers stock beautiful evening wear that would ensure you're the belle of the ball!

Vintage Jean Muir metallic jacket, offered by June Victor 

1980s black lace blouse by Voyage, offered by Carole Collier

1940s crepe dress with contrasting scalloped neck and fluted sleeves, offered by June Victor

1950s Silk chiffon dress, offered by Carole Collier & June Victor

1930s floral white paste clamper bracelet, offered by Carole Collier

1930s Jacob Bengal machine age bracelet, offered by Carole Collier

1920s chrome and green paste drop necklace, offered by June Victor

1970 Bracelet watch, glass stones, deadstock, fully functioning, offered by Carole Collier

1950s black lace shoes, offered by June Victor

1960s metallic silver shoes by Harrods, offered by June Victor

The Rise and Fall of Biba Fashion Stores

Biba, a London born fashion store of the 1960s and 1970s, was created and run by Barbara Hulanicki and her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon.

At first, Biba was a small fashion boutique, selling Art Nouveau decor and Rock and Roll decadence. Opened in Abingdon Road in Kensington in September 1964, when their second shop opened in 1965 on Kensington Church Street the first mail order catalogues were distributed, creating a new and unique shopping experience from home. This also meant that customers did not have to travel to London to purchase from them.

The first Biba store minutes before it opened.

In 1974, the Biba shop moved to a seven story department store which, since its opening day, has attracted up to a million customer weekly. The store had different departments, each floor accompanied by its own theme and logo. The floors consisted of a children's floor, a floor for men's fashion, a floor for women's, a food market, a book store and a home floor which sold decorating items and soft furnishings.

A collection of the different Biba logos for different departments

For those avid collectors out there, there are crucial notes for collecting Biba pieces, as Biba did not label their clothing with their logo until 1968; before then labelling pieces with a small white label with the size in red print. If an item has the Biba font but not the logo, it was made between 1968 and was phased out in 1971. All items after 1971 had official printed labels - gold on black and later black on gold. Collectors must be aware that the modern Biba label looks very similar to the vintage one.

Tin Tin Collectables at Alfies - who deal in vintage clothing and costume accessories - have a wonderful collection of PR catalogue photographs from Biba in the 1960s. These photos show a mother and daughter scene: each image showcasing a woman in an elegant and very Art Nouveau outfit, with a young girl in a matching version. Leslie Verrinder from Tin Tin is lucky enough to have eight of these pages, where most collectors only manage to purchase six. Leslie's Biba collection is available to view and purchase at Alfies.

A picture from the Biba Fashion Catalogues.

A matching mother/daughter outfit catalogue photo

Fantastic examples of Biba fashion

Vintage Biba clothing

London Fashion Week: Stay ahead of the trends at Alfies

Unless you've been hibernating for the past fortnight you'll know that London Fashion Week is upon us for another season, showcasing over 250 designers to a global audience of influential media and retailers. Most of the fashion squad will be congregating at Somerset House as usual, and key trends for the season seem to be the 1970s, texture and fringing, monochrome and floral. Ahead of the action - which runs from tomorrow Friday, 20 February until Tuesday, 24 February 2015 - we look at the trends for SS15 and some #LFW inspired pieces available here at Alfies.

Monochrome

Pair of Black & White 1950s Table Lamps. From The Moderns.

1930s Cream Vellum Suitcase. From Tin Tin Collectables.

1970s/1980s German Phillips Wall Clock. From Eclectic Antiques & Contemporary.

Florals

1970s Dress by Lee Bender at BUS STOP. From Tin Tin Collectables.

1970s Dress by Lee Bender at BUS STOP. From Tin Tin Collectables.

Decorative pansy design brooch 1930s to 1940s. From Moe Heidarieh.

Floral Design Brooch from the 1930s/1940s. From Moe Heidarieh.

Best of the 1970s

1978 Ant chairs designed by Arne Jacobsen. From Francesca Martire.

1970s glass bead necklace. From Velvet Atelier.

1970s helmet color television. From Thirteen Interiors.

18c Gold and Pearl earrings and ring set. From Gareth Brooks.

1970s David Rowland 40/4 Stackable Chairs. From Eclectic Antiques & Contemporary.

1970s Dress by Sharons Shoppe. From Tin Tin Collectables.

Vintage Fashion Finds

Elegant Biba Trousers, glamorous Paquin evening dresses and ultra-cool Ossie Clarke suits, are just a few of the fabulous vintage designer labels available at Tin Tin Collectables. Specialising in vintage costume and accessories from the 1900s to the 1970s, this shop is undoubtedly one of London's best places for vintage fashion. Expect to find fabulous Thirties and Seventies designer labels, ostrich plumes, silk lame robes and beaded flapper dresses.

Fashion designers, film and television costume designers, museums, and individual collectors are all frequent shoppers at this Aladdin's cave. Tin Tin Collectables is run by Leslie Verrinder, who has a wealth of fashion knowledge and a passion for past designs. He has also curated costume and design exhibitions for major British and American museums. All his clothing is hand selected to guarantee perfect condition and style. Here's a sneak peek of the new collection at Tin Tin Collectables.

A glamorous 1970s sequin jacket by Biba. 

A fabulous 1970s suit by Biba. The top is made of polyster crepe with printed polka dot design, ballon sleeves, over sized collar, and shired high waits. The trousers are made of fine wool crepe.

A 1970s dress by Lee Bender at Bus Stop. Printed rayon with ruffles and sleeves and bust, with open back detail. 

Timelessly elegant, this cream 1930s silk satin evening gown with beautiful bead work to neckline and bias cut to hem.

Early 1970s dress by Sharon's Shoppe in Kensignton Market. Polyester chiffon, with hand painted velvet trim. 

A sophisticated 1930s black devore silk evening gown by Paquin. 

A wonderful 1970s suit by Ossie Clark. Fine wool crepe with yellow trim to all edges. 

For more information visit: http://www.tintincollectables.net/ or http://www.alfiesantiques.com