Monthly Archives: August 2016

Top 5 Bands To See at Festival Number 6

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This time next week we’ll be packing our bags and be on our merry way to Festival Number 6! Decking out our marquee with a specially curated selection of vintage traders, we’ll be bringing all the glitter, gowns and glam you could possibly need – hurrah!

After a successful year’s trading last year, we’re delighted to be back at one of our favourite festivals. Taking place in the gloriously pretty and quirky surrounds of Portmeirion, we’re already giddy for both work and play. From the artisan foodstalls to pop-up hot tubs and the huge carnival parade, there is no shortage of things to see and do.

And then of course, there is the music. Team Judy’s are an eclectic bunch and Festival Number 6 is certainly an event that caters for every taste. It’s been a hard job whittling it down, but here are the top five bands we can’t wait to check out…

Blossoms
Hailing from Stockport, these indie lads are a staple of our kilo playlist. Part of the new wave of guitar bands that hail back to the glory days of the 90s, their debut album has it’s fair share of hands in the air anthems – hop on over to Spotify and give ‘Honey Sweet’ a spin.

Oh Wonder
We’re praying for good weather so we can sip a cocktail or three while kicking back to the chilled vibes of Oh Wonder. Blending a touch of Rnb with acoustic pop, they are a perfect accompaniment to the dreamy pastels of Portmeirion. Bonus points if they pull out their cover of Beyonce’s ‘Crazy In Love’ – too good!

Aurora
A breakout star of 2016, Norwegian singer songwriter Aurora is as great to watch as she is to listen to – we’re talking some seriously amazing outfits! You may know her from her cover of ‘Half The World Away’ from the John Lewis advert, but we prefer ‘Runaway’ – pop it on repeat and allow your mind to drift off to faraway lands.

Broken Social Scene
A band we’ve been waiting to see for a really long time, Broken Social Scene have made some of our favourite albums to work to. Having not released anything since 2010, this rare festival appearance hopefully heralds some new music – have a listen to their 2005 self-titled record to get you into their atmospheric guitar sound.

 

Gold Panda
It wouldn’t be a festival without party vibes, which we’re sure will be brought in abundance by Gold Panda.Pretty much any track from ‘Good Luck And Do Your Best’ will have you breaking out a shoulder shimmy, but it’s ‘In My Car’ that we really love – 4 minutes 30 seconds of pure sunshine.

So there we have it! Whether you’re there for the music, the literature or simply to say goodbye to the summer, be sure to pop by our marquee for all your festival needs. Oh, and to swap musical recommendations of course!

Podium Chic – A Brief History Of Olympics Fashion

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When it’s Olympics time at Judy HQ, we’re thinking three things. First things first, it’s marvelling at how many great sportsmen and women we’ve produced on such a tiny island. Second, it’s deciding that we DEFINITELY need to get back in the gym. But Third, it’s checking out all those sleek, colourful sporting outfits and wondering where such fabulous garments originated. So without further ado (and no chatting at the back), here is our whistlestop tour of how Olympic fashion has developed over time.

1896 gymasts olympics 1896

1896
Not considering it’s ancient greek incarnations, the Olympics were originally introduced in the late 1800s. Women’s involvement was still very much taboo and the event was nowhere near the globally-incorporating event it is today. Athlecticwear was pretty much non-existent as competitors were expected to wear their ‘sunday best’ – they’re nothing streamlined about these outfits!

1932 olympics - basics of the modern uniform 1932

1930s
By 1932, the classic ‘Olympian’ look was starting to be established – think preppy Americana with modest hemlines and big ‘champion’ smiles. Fabrics were still somewhat limited and colours muted but the ‘track and field’ silhouette was starting to take shape, a look that was to last well into the late 1900s.

60s polyester and sparkles

Midcentury
Like all fashions and homewares, sportswears saw a huge shift in the 60s – suddenly colour, pattern and texture was in. Gymnastic uniforms were the first to get the full glitter and polyester treatment, and athletes began to show a little more personality with skimpy fits, of-the-era hairstyles, jewellery and accessories.

1980s

1980s
Ah, the decade of patriotism! The glitter and glam of midcentury remained, but as the Olympic Games entered an era of commercialisation that saw it beamed into the homes of millions around the world, it became more important than ever for Olympians to show their country colours. This is when ‘flag outfits’ truly began, as exemplified by this iconic star-spangled-banner look from 1984.

1990s - windbreaker suit, sportswear as dailywear

1990s
As we rolled into the 90s, the exercise craze of the 80s lived on, and olympic outfits started to resemble what we were wearing on the street. The windbreaker suit became a staple look for off-duty Olympians, with Nylon high on the agenda. If you’re after a replica, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics was merchandised heavily, meaning that even now these items sometimes crop up at our kilo sale – worth looking out for!

simone biles stella mccartney, designer collaborations

Modern Day
Athleisurewear is now firmly bedded in our consciousness, and with significant advances in fabric technology, there is more demand than ever for sporting attire to look and feel great for the wearer, creating a bodily environment that allows them to perform to the best of their ability. Designer collaborations are coming in thick and fast – just look at Great Britain’s Rio 2016 uniform as designed by Stella McCartney. Finally, sportswear has it’s very own place in fashion, and it’s obtainable for us ‘normal’ people too – even if we can only manage a few reps in the gym before hitting the McDonalds drive-through.

Fancy a hunt for your own slice of Olympics fashion? Check out our upcoming events here –

Patching Things Up – Tips For 2016’s Hottest Trend

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Even the most casual fashion fans among us will know that this year, one trend has dominated all of fashion – the humble pin or patch. No longer the domain of cub scouts or your Nana’s darning needle, these cute little customisations are how the fashion set are personalising their look, showing some individuality and crucially offering a serious throwback to the ‘collector’ trends of the 80s/90s.

But how best to rock your own patched piece without looking more shabby than chic? Embellished jeans, dresses and bags can look great in the right hands, but for patching newbies, you can’t go far wrong with a classic jacket. Feeling inspired? Follow our top tips and you’ll be rocking this look in no time.

Start simple
First things first, you’ll need to select your patching garment. It’s best to opt for a plain, hardy fabric – think denim or a heavy cotton. A plain background is often best so as not to clash with your pins and patches. A quick trip to our kilo sale or vintage fair is the perfect place to source your garment – play your cards right and it’ll cost you less than £15!

Shop Independent
As us vintage fans will know all too well, there is an immense satisfaction for sporting a garment that nobody else owns. Patching a jacket is a great excuse to support independent businesses and avoid lower-quality high street imitations (see the current accusations against Zara for copying indie artists’s work.) Shop around on etsy or search the tracked tags on Instagram – or have a chat with our traders of course!

Quality not Quantity
It can be tempting to patch as you go or throw any old thing at your jacket in an attempt to ‘finish it’, but we think it’s definitely worth building up a solid collection of patches over time before you go to town. The best patch effect is achieved by good curation, so think carefully about the vibe you want to portray and be patient in your pursuit for the perfect piece. Remember that a jacket can be subject to a fair bit of wear, so always opt for patches and pins of good sturdy quality – you don’t want bits falling off!

Plan things out
Feel like you’ve nailed your collection? Perfect! Now you’re at the stage where planning is key. Pins are obviously easy as they can be moved around, but patches require a little more consideration – lay yours out in full on your jacket or tack them with needle and thread to ensure you’re happy before going the whole hog. Also, be sure to check the instructions for each patch – modern ones are often iron fixable, whereas vintage patches may be better off handsewn. if you do get things a little wrong, don’t worry – the patched look is meant to be a little messy and unkept for it’s true effect.

So there we have it – time to get patching! We’d love to see your best efforts – tweet us a picture to @judysvintagefair or tag us on insta!

denim patch moodboard

5 Favourite Vintage-Inspired Bloggers

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Where better to seek out some retro-dressing inspiration than on the bloggersphere? Whether we’ve snapped up a new piece we’re desperate to style or are just stuck in a wardrobe rut, we love procrastinating  checking out our bloglovin account on our lunchbreaks for our favourite vintage inspired bloggers. Often blending retro items with high-street finds, here are some accounts from blogging babes very much after our own heart. Whether you’re a mid-century purist or a more modern throwback lover, thank us later for the inspo…

nora finds

50s Style – Nora Finds
Purveyor of swishy dresses and beautiful nipped-in jackets, Nora’s take on midcentury style will have you swooning. Established in 2011, Nora Finds is you one-stop shop for the best vintage haunts in London, outfit posts and straight-to-the-point advice on the best repro brands.

larkspur vintage

60s – Larkspur Vintage
Although blogger Alexandra flits around the decades, it’s her soft sixties outfits that we admire the most. With a passion for pastels and kitschy prints, we’re pretty jealous of her Toronto lifestyle and her adorable fluffy puppy.

pages by megan

70s – Pages By Megan
Mancunian Megan has been on our style radar for a very long time – she even popped into to one of our kilo sales! Whether she’s sporting high street or vintage, her looks always have a distinct vibe of 70s rock and roll – think leather biker jackets, band tees and statement boots. If you’re a vintage newbie, Pages By Megan should be in your bookmarks as the perfect example of how to introduce key vintage pieces into your life.

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80s – Helen Anderz
Helen’s blogs and vlogs always brighten our day – hard not to with such vibrant hair! Helen’s take on fashion is as fun as she is – expect 80s leopard print, neon brights and a touch of hair metal. Hers is a wardrobe we would love to have a rummage though!

my rainbow feeling

90s – My Rainbow Feeling
Mathilde has only recently started My Rainbow Feeling, but we’ve been obsessed with her instagram for months. Colourclashing, fun textures and wacky headgear – these looks have 90s all over them! for days where you feel like you need a little more fun in your life, this is the place to go for some sunshine.

Feeling inspired to refresh your wardrobe? Check out our upcoming dates here –