Saturday 6 December 2014

Christmas Shopping.

Until a couple of weeks ago I didn't feel like winter or Christmas was ever going to come; I was still more than happy to walk around in skirts without tights and hands without mittens but ever since December dawned and I've started waking up in the morning excited for my advent calender chocolate (No matter the age, I always want a calender), I've had to face facts: Christmas is in 19 days and I need to wear warmer clothes and start to turn my heating on.
I remember when I was younger and by mid November every Sunday my mum and dad would take me and my sisters to a different town/Christmas market/family member to start Christmas shopping. We'd sit in the back of the car, cuddled underneath our parents coats listening to the classic Christmas CD (Wham/Slade/Band Aid) and I loved the build up, it felt like there was all the time in the world to get excited. As I've turned 23 this year and I've got my last major hand in for uni on the 12th of December before I start my Final Major Project in January I feel like time has just escaped me and I need to buy everyone's presents now and write those Christmas cards now and sing Christmas songs NOW oh and make 3 dresses/4 harnesses and complete two sketchbooks..
This is where I feel like shouting HALLELUJAH and rejoicing for online shopping, don't get me wrong actually looking round shops and touching things and feeling things would always be my preferred way of shopping if I had the time and the money (online shopping I can actually give myself time to make considered purchases...). With a click of a button I managed to get my boyfriends/friends and sisters presents within about 30 minutes and I than sat back and rewarded myself with a Christmas film and a hot chocolate and a feeling of guilt to my bank balance and awaiting coursework.
I've also been looking for a cute 60's inspired dress for Christmas day and think this one would be perfect !
 Brick Vintage
 Brick Vintage
Brick Vintage: 60's dress

What have you been buying this year?




Friday 7 November 2014

1920's Fashion

I've recently found myself becoming completely absorbed in 1920's American fashion, which I can thank mostly to the current project I'm working night and day (literally..) on for my course at uni.
When you first think of the 1920's you could be forgiven for instantly thinking of the romanticism intertwined with feminism and a new found voice for 'flapper' women; however let me take you a bit further into the state of the American economy during this period and then out of the towns and into the countryside where many families were struggling to keep their heads above the poverty line that was part of their everyday life during the economic depression.
Flour Companies at this time were selling their goods in cloth feed sacks and during a time when mass consumerism had yet to appear on the horizon and fabric was too expensive for the households of the poor, this cloth was used to make garments to clothe the backs of children, husbands and wives.
As newspapers published articles for the handy housewife on fashionable patterns for their feed sack dresses, the flour companies manufacturing these sacks saw an opportunity to compete with each other for their customers with hundreds of different patterns and colours and even used ink that washed away their logo so that nowadays it can be hard to even begin to identify if a dress was infact made from a flour sack.
Matching dresses in the 1920's
When I first began researching into this period of American 'fashion' I loved how novel it was and how it felt dressed up to be something 'fashionable'; unfortunately nowadays we live in a society that thinks  nothing of throwing out 'recyclable' fashion season after season and always being able to afford the latest catwalk driven trends thanks to the corporate companies of the high street.
There was a time when women not only had to sew their own clothes but had to use anything to make them; feed sack fashion was not only a sign of desperation and poverty but also of the beauty of a community joined together in learning how to live and to be happy in the hardest of times and I think thats something worth remembering?


Check out this cape! Vintage fashion recycles beautiful garments for generations to wear and enjoy!






Monday 13 October 2014

Raindrops on Fur Coats and Warm Woolen Mittens.

Autumn has arrived and brought it with all the signs of change and comfort that I'm so happy to bring home with me. As I sit here typing, my candles are lit, my very attractive sheep onesie is on and a hot chocolate isnt too far in the future for this cold, wet and windy October night!
I always love October (January-March is the period I hate the most for future reference: I dislike ice and snow after Christmas and would rather a rosy complexion from the sun than the wind!), ever since I was little its brought with it change; when I was younger that was starting new school years and making new friends and now it means a final year at university, a new job and a blossoming relationship.
 Something its always mean't to me and always will is: Mittens (preferably hanging on a string, I'm forever a 90's child), Fur coats, tartan scarfs, thick jumpers, flannel shirts, doc martens and fleecy socks. All of this can start to feel a little too old and tired until you dig out some old gems and inject your wardrobe with new finds, rather than picking out a classic fisherman knit I've started turning to bright kitsch knitted patterns and wearing mens plaid shirts that are oversized and comfier and I can team with my doc martens and knee high socks. That brown/black fur coat? I'm mixing it with a bright scarf and a beanie with a veil (Monki and asos do amazing veils or why not buy a vintage one and attach your own netting? Get creative!)
I love Autumn for clashing the old and the new, do you?
This is on my wish list!


Wednesday 12 February 2014

Changes Ahead

Not managed a blog for a while, last few weeks have been full on both weekdays and weekends! Last week l gave notice on the premises l currently occupy, have some major decisions to make but will let you all know my plans as soon as a decision has been made. l have managed to do a little bit of buying and list a few new items. Was more of an experiment to see if l was able to work photoshop, got better the more l edited.

Here are a few of my favourites:

Women's


Men's



 
Brick Vintage

www.brickvintage.com


 
 








Wednesday 22 January 2014

Mods, Mini Skirts & Hippies

When thinking of 1960's fashion to me there are three defining chapters, the mods, the mini skirt and the hippies.

Mods

First came the mods in the early 1960's who were defined with there slim fitting tailor made suits with narrow lapels and Chelsea boots. Gone were the pale toned shades to be replaced with bright colours and geometric prints.
 
 



Mini Skirt

The most iconic fashion symbol of the 1960's, an original design created by Andre Courreges but popularised by Mary Quant and her shop Bazaar on the Kings Road.






This picture of Jean Shrimpton caused a sensation at the Melbourne Cup 1965. No hat, no gloves and a hemline above the knee which was very unusual at the time. Look at the women in the background and their attire, you can see why it was a headline!







Hippies

In the late 60's the hippie look was in style. Meaning bell bottom jeans, headbands, caftans, sandels and of course psychedellic prints. I think this picture sums up the hippie movement and their fashion perfectly!


 

Of course there have been plenty of 1960's fashion that l haven't mentioned such as the dandy look inspired by the Edwardian era, maybe another time.

Brick Vintage

www.brickvintage,com
 



 



 

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Vintage Gloverall Duffle Coats

Been for an afternoon walk today. Weather was dull, damp and raining so l immediately went for my 1960's Gloverall duffle coat before leaving the house, safe in the knowledge it would keep me snug and warm.
Just made me curious to find out about the history of the duffle coat. Through a bit of research, mainly Wiki l must admit! Anyway the duffle coat owes it's popularity to the British Royal Navy who first issued the duffle coat in World War 1.



In the 1950's and 1960's became a popular piece of clothing to the general public as post World War 2 surplus stock was sold off. Along came Gloverall in 1954 and started producing there own duffle coat and every duffle you see now is a copy of that original made by Gloverall.




I think the main reason for the continued popularity of vintage Gloverall duffle coats today is simply the quality which is still exceptional.
Well this has been my first effort at a blog for Brick Vintage, try and do another next week, thanks for reading.

www.brickvintage.com