Fabulous Festive Fashion

Party season is well underway! Not sure what to wear? Make an entrance at the next Christmas soirée with these party outfit ideas and accessories. Whether you're more about subtle shine or dazzling diamanté, these vintage pieces will certainly turn heads...

Fashion staple: A classic black dress with a statement necklace is a surefire hit!
Vintage black dress, offered by June Victor; Statement necklace c1980s, offered by Gloria Sinclair

c1980s sequin bow clutch, offered by Gloria Sinclair

1980s Chanel clip on earrings, offered by Gloria Sinclair

1930s silver tone necklace with diamanté, offered by Gloria Sinclair

1960s faceted beaded evening bag, offered by June Victor

Rainbow glass crystal c1950s necklace, offered by June Victor

Diamanté tie, c1970s,  offered by June Victor

Cocktail party chic: Throw on this sequin jacket to add some sparkle to your outfit, c1960s, offered by Dream Retro

Perfect for a Christmas lunch: We love metallics for a touch of glamour! 1980s blouse, offered by June Victor  

Perfect for after-work drinks: A sparkly knit adds a hint of festive fun to an outfit.
Silver knit c1970s, offered by Dream Retro  

Let's Party- London's Notting Hill Carnival

Join in the party this weekend, with a sea of stunning colours, dazzling costumes, floats and sparkling street performers, as the Notting Hill Carnival celebrates London's multicultural past and present. Whether you want to join in the fun and dancing or simply watch the parades, this bank holiday weekend, August 30 to 31 2015, the streets of Notting Hill turn into Europe's biggest and best street festival.

Image sourced from Hello Magazine

Since 1964, the capital's Caribbean communities have celebrated their culture and traditions at this two-day festival of fantastic live music, dancing, performances, floats, steel bands and an array of delicious Afro-Caribbean foods to try.

The first carnival in Notting Hill was to showcase the steel band musicians who played at Earls Court each weekend. When the bands performed around the streets of Notting Hill their music and celebrations reminded the residents of the Caribbean homes they had left behind. This then became a yearly tradition and to the vibrant street party it is today.

The origin of the carnival dates back to the early 19th century Caribbean carnivals, in particular Trinidad's, which celebrated the abolition of slavery and the slave trade. Having been forbidden to have festivals or celebrations of their own during the times of slavery, the people of Trinidad took full advantage of the new freedoms and there was a strong aspect of parody in the songs and dances performed.

The bright costumes have become a vital part of the street celebrations and at Alfies we have an abundance of colourful bags, spectacular costume jewellery and vintage clothing perfect for the weekend's festivities.

1950s green glass and plastic bead carnival necklace. Offered by Tony Durante

1950s American blue floral hat. Offered by Carole Collier

1950s American Sacs 5th Avenue clutch bag with compact mirror and silk purse. Offered by Carole Collier

A stunning vintage belly dancing costume made of silver wooden beads and green jewels. Offered by Tin Tin Collectables

1920s rock crystal 18ct diamond earrings. Offered by Pari's Jewellery

1980s gold disco earrings. Offered by Tony Durante

An early 20th century Japanese decorative head dress. Offered by Tin Tin Collectables

A beautiful 20th century statement necklace. Offered by Gloria Sinclair

Flutter By Alfies

Butterflies have always been considered creatures of beauty from their majestically designed wings to their grace in flight. The ‘Sensational Butterflies’ exhibition at the Natural History Museum allows you to appreciate these beautiful creatures up close this summer. Today the sight of a butterfly is a lot less common than it used to be. This exhibition gives people the chance to see a large number of different species in one place and learn about one of nature’s amazing life cycles.

In the world of fashion, butterflies remain an object of beauty. You may have seen jewellery shaped like a butterfly but have you ever wondered if it is a real butterfly? Butterfly wing jewellery has been a popular form of accessory since the 1920s. The style involves painting exquisite pieces of art on the reverse side of a butterfly wing. The most desirable images include crinoline ladies, children, or birds, as well as tropical paradise scenes. They are most commonly found on bracelets, brooches, pins, and pendants. You can grab yourself a small pendant for less than £10 at a vintage market!

Lovely Butterfly Wing Pendant Charm featured on Ebay 

Many of the vintage pieces here at Alfies also let butterflies take center stage. Butterfly jewellery, such as brooches and pendants, is a prominent feature with vibrant colours and interesting shapes. Butterfly prints can also be spotted, some even featuring real butterflies, just like the butterfly wing jewellery.  

Below is a selection of a few of the lovely butterfly pieces Alfies has to offer to make your summer just that little bit more colourful: 

20th Century Butterfly and Floral Print Cup and Saucer Sets. Offered by Beth Adams and Horner Antiques

Genuine Antique Butterfly Print, over 100 Years Old. Offered by Moe Heidarieh

Victorian Butterfly Brooch with Stunning Floral Detailing. Offered by Naneen Brooks

Beautiful Vintage Enamel Butterfly Brooch. Offered by June Victor  

'Boys Catching Butterflies' Vintage Plate. Offered by Horner Antiques

Butterfly and Floral Print Bow Octagonal Dish c.1760. Offered by Janes Antiques

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!

Why you should buy vintage at Alfies

Apart from the obvious reason that most of us like to have an individual style and make our look and home an expression of who we are, we have compiled a list of reasons that should convert anyone to a real vintage lover.

Getting Started

Buying vintage clothing is probably the easiest and safest way of avoiding bumping into someone wearing (gasp!) the same item. You can easily add an individual touch to your outfit by adding vintage accessories, think colourful silk scarves, unusual handbags, period jewellery and interesting head wear.

Connie Speight, Persiflage and The Originals to name but a few have plenty of affordable accessories on offer. That should get you started and you will soon be back to buy something more 'daring', like a bold statement piece to really make you stand out.

Art Deco Evening bag from Connie Speight, Jewellery from The Originals

Or perhaps a whole outfit? You can find plenty to choose from at Deborah Woolf Vintage here at Alfies as well as at The Girl Can't Help It and Empire Vintage. Take your time browsing and find the piece you really love while learning more about it from our incredibly knowledgeable dealers.

Inside Deborah Woolf's shop

Empire Vintage

Eco Friendly

Buying vintage and antique items from Alfies is also a 'green' way of shopping, hop on the bus or tube and that way you keep your carbon footprint low. You can see and check everything here so no need to have items shipped to you (and running the risk of not liking them in the end). We are within easy access of public transport and you can spend your whole day here, taking a break from shopping in The Rooftop Restaurant.

Responsible

Of course you also avoid mass production and possible support of sweatshops and generally being a member of this - at times - 'disposable' society; not to mention the impact of fabric production. Our vintage items are real finds that will be treasured in the family over generations, most of them bear a story and they all have plenty of character.

Pay a visit to Manic Attic to find something stylish to give your interior an authentic vintage touch. Then move to East West Antique and Books to have a rummage through their great collection of books, toys and small artefact's.

One of the many glass sets available at Manic Attic

Timeless

And should you wish to invest in some beautiful art or perhaps an original timepiece you must stop at N&S Watches on the ground floor. They will also be happy to repair your watch at a very reasonable rate.

1940's Movado watch

Again, to avoid disposing of beautiful items why not check out our expert services, apart from the framers and upholsterer featured in our last blog, you can also find a silversmith in Michelle Payne's unit, as well as Victor Caplin on the ground floor who sells a wide array of objects and also creates and re-strings wonderful antique beaded necklaces and pearls.

Winter Weddings

Having a wedding in the winter might be considered by some a bit risky, especially in the UK where the weather can be unpredictable and wet enough to dampen even the happiest of moods. But just think of the positives: rosy cheeks, roaring fires and furs to wrap up in, winter weddings are just so romantic and much more exciting to dress up for!

One of the main problems is keeping warm, especially if the service takes place in a blustery church. Find a beautiful winter coat to keep out the cold.

This deep red cotton velvet evening coat with it's silk satin collar and matching buttons c.1910 is perfect for brides who wish to make a bold statement. Find this one from Tin Tin Collectables. While for a strictly white wedding wrap up in a fur cape such as this 1950s mink cape below from Linetta Greco.

For dresses and accessories there is so much to choose from at Alfies. Find beautiful clutches, jewellery and hats such as this amazing 1970s Yves Saint Laurent felt hat with fox trim from The Girl Can't Help It. This would look stunning in outdoor photographs!

Tin Tin Collectables is a great place to start for dresses. With it's recent refurbishment it has a fantastic new dressing room for you to try on stunning vintage and antique dresses fit for brides and bridesmaids alike. Why not go wild with feathers and really glam up your winter wedding!

Wearing lace is such a great way to soften any winter look and add elegance to a simple dress. June Victor has a huge range of beautiful antique lace such as this antique lace collar, shown below. She also has a huge range of antique and vintage table linen that would be perfect for a white wedding.

For something special why not invest in some pretty lingerie. The Girl Can't Help It has a range of beautiful unworn pieces such as this Rosy vintage lace pantie girdle.

With minimalist dresses you can afford to make a statement with your jewellery. Below is an exquisite 18ct gold and seed pearl brooch from Gareth Brooks that could be worn as a long pendant or a beautiful hair adornment.

This French Limoges porcelain box from Hayman & Hayman below is for the wedding rings, to keep them together and safe. It has two compartments one for each ring.

Alfies is the perfect place to visit for inspiration and plan your wedding at anytime of the year.

Don't forget to make full use of our services too. Alfies has everything from vintage hair and make up sessions for your big day, courtesy of Nina's Hair Parlour and Isadora's Powder Room as mentioned in our previous post. Julie Elgar of Empire Vintage specialises in vintage clothing alterations if you find the perfect dress just isn't your size.

If you are looking to break away from tradition why not have your wedding list at Alfies. It's easy to set up and guests can feel they are contributing to something to be treasured for years to come!

The Second Floor in Alfies

Here in Alfies we have four floors of amazing stands filled with unique items. This week's blog focuses on the second floor, where you will find a great mix of unusual collectables ranging from kitsch 50's tea sets from Ian Broughton to beautiful vintage lace from June Victor.

June sells a range of textiles from the 18th Century up until the 1940's, encompassing costume, lace, ribbons and table and bed linen. Her costumes and related accessories are constantly supplied to films and theatre.

Adjacent to June's stand is Nigel Martin, here you can find a wealth of vintage fabric, fixings and trimmings.

Persiflage specialises in similar items; textiles, vintage clothes and accessories. Like June's and Nigel's, this is a real treasure trove of a shop. You can find amazing 1960s dresses alongside drawers full of vintage buttons and trimmings, all reasonably priced.

The Originals have lots of fantastic and unique pieces of jewellery that I could spend hours looking at! Recently I have been admiring their collection from French costume jewellery designer Lea Stein.

Just opposite The Originals you will find East West Antiques. Colin Thompson who runs the stand has a variety of specialisms including Oriental objects and decoratives, illustrated books (including children's books) and collectible toys and related ephemera.

Francesco Bettoni deals in original artwork mainly from the 1970s. His constantly varying stock encompasses many disciplines including sculpture, painting, prints, and photography. All the artworks are signed originals from renowned international artists.

Ian Broughton's shop Manic Attic is crammed full of amazing kitsch finds from 1930's-60's. You can find quirky glasses, lighting record players and household items that will take you back to another
time.

Art and Decorative Design, have a great range of 20th Century decorative objects, with a focus on lighting, furniture and contemporary art. This is an ideal destination for collectors and interior designers alike.

Beverley is a well established antiques dealer who specialises in glass, ceramics, porcelain and English china. There really is something for everyone here, from the pretty tea cups to Clarice Cliff hand painted plates.

Trevor Lewis Vintage Glass & Decorative Objects is a relatively new dealer to the market, but with 15 years experience in the antiques trade under his belt, he has brought a fantastic array of decorative items to Alfies. This ranges from Art Deco vases to kitsch glass objects.

So make a bee line for the Second Floor Gallery and see what treasures you can find!