Shop for Summer '13 Trends - the Vintage Way!

It may has passed us by a little bit here in the UK, but Spring is over and it's now officially Summer. I am loving a lot of the trends for these warmer months and I've been through the My Vintage wardrobes to bring you some of the best, bang on trend, vintage fashion that money can buy!

Graphic Prints

When it comes to print this summer, if it's kitsch or quirky, it's in! We have some real gems at My Vintage HQ just now, here are a few of the best...

1970s Vintage Cartoon Print Jacket. Size 10. £56.

1960s Vintage Sportaville Farm Print Suit. Size 8. £65.

1950s Vintage Strawberry Print Dress. Size 12. £95

60s Style

Why go for a 1960s inspired high street piece when you can shop vintage for the real deal? Here are some of my current favourites that are perfect for summer...

1960s Vintage Pink Mini Dress. Size 12. £38.

1960s Vintage Blue Floral Smock Dress. Size 16/18. £38

1960s Vintage Coral Shift Dress. Size 14. £40

Striking Stripes

Stripes have been big for a while and there's no sign of them disappearing any time soon. Here are some stripy gems from My Vintage...

1960s Vintage Striped Cocktail Dress. Size 6/8. £36.

1950s Vintage Nautical Stripe Dress. Size 10. £95

1970s Vintage Striped Maxi Dress. Size 12. £27

Total White Out

Light, bright and clean, it's all about white this summer. Mix with bright neons or keep it simple with a total white out! Here are some of our best white bits...

1980s White Stretch Bodycon Skirt. Size 12. £18

1960s Vintage White Linen Mini Dress. Size 12. £40.

Reworked Vintage White Denim Shorts. Size 6/8. £30.

Let me know your favourites in the comments below!

Over and out!

Em x

Cinderella came to Darwen...

So there I was casually walking down the street after closing the shop this evening and low and behold I was greeted by a pretty pale pink heeled shoe on the pavement.

It was a perfectly nice shoe too, a high stileletto heel with a mary jane strap and in good condition. As I walked on I couldn't help wondering how you could lose a shoe without knowing?!

Have you ever lost a shoe or an equally important item of clothing in public? I'd love to know!

Em x

A Dress Can Change Your Life...

For me, a dress is much much more than just an item of clothing. The right dress can make you feel like a totally different person. The right dress can take you from feeling down or broken hearted to feeling like you can take on the world. If you find a dress that's just right, it has the ability to make you smile in a way that no human ever could.

Working with vintage dresses every day really is a dream come true for me. When I am working in the shop I get to make this feeling of pure joy happen for so many different women. Having worked with people and clothes for many years, I have developed a bit of a sixth sense for what will and will not work.

Just yesterday I had a lady in the shop who had gone up a few dress sizes over the years and wasn't feeling very body confident in general. Before we properly talked she tried on a few smock and tunic style frocks and just felt that they highlighted all the wrong places. We got chatting and she told me her story and I could see in her eyes exactly how she felt. She had a lovely size 14 figure with all the right curves but as someone who used to be much smaller, she didn't have confidence in her shape.

I suggested that she try a fitted wiggle dress to really show off her hourglass frame and I showed her a gorgeous red 40s style number. She absolutely loved it but she completely discounted it and said she was far too big to carry it off. With a bit of gentle persuasion she agreed to try the dress on and when she emerged from the fitting room I couldn't help but let out a gasp. It was like looking at a totally different person, this dress not only looked amazing on her but her eyes and smile had completely lit up with happiness! She walked around with such confidence and swagger too. The whole thing was a bit emotional for us both - it was physically obvious how this simple dress had made her feel, like a form of therapy.

She was so grateful for my help and that I had pushed her out of her comfort zone and she left the shop with a gorgeous dress and a real spring in her step. What makes this even better is that I know for sure that when she wears that dress out she will be batting the compliments off with a stick!

This just goes to show the power of the dress - don't ever underestimate it.

If you would like my help finding the perfect dress for you please contact me at emma@myvintage.co.uk or call into the shop at 2 The Circus, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 1BT.

I look forward to hearing from you...

Em x