ALL THE FUN OF THE VINTAGE FAIR

Thank you to the fabulous exhibitors at yesterday's Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair, and to all the lovely visitors who gave up their Sunday and came along to support us. A fabulous picture of visitor Angela Keenan from Crossgar trying on hats from New Age Vintage appeared in today's Irish News (see below). Vintage hats were very popular yesterday - here are some hat images from the day.

THE PIN-UP GIRLS

The Frock Around The Clock Beauty Team will be at tomorrow's Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair creating fabulous vintage hairstyles and beautiful make-up looks, and there will also be gorgeous girly make-up products to purchase.

Kelly and Claire have been working together on some stunning vintage photo shoots lately. Here are some of the looks that they have created:

Photography © Ryan Wilson

KNOW YOUR GREEN ONIONS

Glamour is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when eco fashion is mentioned, but did you know that buying vintage means that you can be both green and glamorous? Researchers tell us that it takes ten times more energy to make a ton of textiles than a ton of glass so it makes sense to recycle our clothes and give Mother Nature a break. It also helps to avoid fast fashion and invest in classic pieces that will last which is where vintage clothing really shows off its green credentials.

Generally speaking, the materials and workmanship in a dress that started life in the 1950s are far superior to most disposable fashion that you will find on the High Street today, which is why so many vintage pieces have stood the test of time and are still being worn by stylish people of all ages without looking dated. Frock Around The Clock is great starting place to find fabulous vintage style, both for your wardrobe and your home. We do the hard work for you and source stunning 20th century fashion, accessories and home decor so it is all at your fingertips; saving you hours of hard work sifting through tired and uninspiring rails of donated clothing in endless charity shops and the disappointment of receiving a package from eBay to find that the prom dress that you won at auction doesn't fit, has a great big hole, or just doesn't look like it did on your computer screen.We also have hand made clothing, accessories and jewellery created by ethical local designers who re-use and upcycle a variety of vintage textiles.

We love glamour at Frock Around The Clock, but we also love the environment. Come along to our Vintage Fashion and Textile Fair this Sunday 9th May and find out how beautiful and green vintage shopping can be. So, what can you expect to find? 

We offer an unrivalled selection of vintage treasures. 40+ vintage sellers from Dublin to Derry will be selling vintage fashion and accessories from the 1920s to the 1980s, glittering and sparkling costume jewellery, and stunning handcrafted items created from vintage textiles. You can also pick up vintage homewares including china, ceramics and glass, upcycled furniture pieces, vintage vinyl, curious curios, and much more! A Vintage Collectors Paradise!

DAWN CHORUS

Following the popularity of our Early Bird Offer at the February vintage fair we have decided to run it again at this Sunday's event.

Arrive between 11am and 11.30am and you will receive £2 OFF the general admission price. That means that you will pay £3 for adults and only £1 for seniors and students!

Be sure to arrive between 11am and 11.30am to avail of this offer. Remember that the early bird catches the bargains!

Frock Around The Clock - Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair

Sunday 9th May

11am - 4.30pm

Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast (opposite the BBC)

PLAY THINGS

After their successful debut at Frock Around The Clock in February, Little Blue Cottage are returning from Leitrim this Sunday with more lovely vintage goodies for us lucky gals. They have managed to source a lovely selection of playsuits from the 1970s to the 1980s especially for us - from bright colours and bold patterns to girly florals there is something for all tastes.

The playsuit is fun and flirty and one of summer's wardrobe staples. Coming in all lengths from a bottom-skimming ultra short style to knee length or cropped at mid calf, they are also extremely versatile. Wear with or without a t-shirt underneath, add a pretty cardi or a leather jacket for a more cutting edge look and you are hot to trot. Don't worry if your legs aren't perfect - add some opaque or footless tights and you don't have to worry about unshaved pins!

Here is a preview of some of the playsuits that can be found at Little Blue Cottage this Sunday.

STAMP DUTY

I am loving this bracelet by Jennifer Robinson from Robinsons Jewellers. The Take Me To ......Norway bracelet features 6 vintage stamps encased in silver and is a completely one off piece, signed by the designer on the reverse.  Visit the website to view other designs by Jennifer. All pieces in the Take Me To...... range come in a gorgeous vintage tin! They are sure to get the stamp of approval at our Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair this Sunday 9th May at the Holiday Inn, Belfast.

Image © Jennifer Robinson

WELL HELLO DOLLY

Frock Around The Clock regular Gillian of The Optimists returns to our Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair this Sunday 9th May. Gillian specialises in vintage and antique dolls, teddy bears and other collectables and is also the author of 'Norah Wellings Cloth Dolls & Soft Toys'. Her stand at the Vintage Fair is always a treasure chest of childhood memories for adults - as well as dolls, bears, toys and dolls tea sets you can expect to find vanity items, antique jewellery and vintage clothing. Something for everyone!

You can visit Gillian's shop on Ruby Lane at http://www.theoptimists.net/ and her blogspot at http://norahwellingsjournal.blogspot.com/

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair takes place on Sunday 9th May at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11am to 4.30pm. Admission costs £5 for adults and £3 for seniors and students. Early bird admission from 11am to 11.30am when there is £2 off the general admission price.

MEASURE UP

Another new exhibitor making their debut at our Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair this Sunday 9th May is Rachael Murphy of RJL Designs. Specialising in 'Measure Up', a range of fashion jewellery - primarily brooches, Rachael's designs use recycled fabric, cloth, twisted tape measures and buttons.

Rachael believes that cloth bares witness to our lives, being a powerful unspoken signifier of character, gender, era and financial status, and she uses fragments of discarded and vintage clothes and fabric in her work to recall memories and experience. Armed with knowledge of latest fashion trends and colours, Rachael puts together her artwork in a creative and fearless manner, playing with clashing colours and mixes of pattern, ensuring that each piece is a perfect measure of history and culture.

Visit Rachael's website at http://www.rjldesigns.co.uk/


Image © Rachael Murphy

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair takes place on Sunday 9th May at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11am to 4.30pm. Admission costs £5 for adults and £3 for seniors and students. Earlybird offer applies from 11am to 11.30am when there will be £2 off the general admission price.

THE NAME'S BOND

New to Frock Around The Clock this Sunday 9th May is Jenny Bond Interiors. Expect to find 'Lost and Found' furniture - an eclectic mix of vintage pieces re-worked in a modern way to give them a new lease of life.

All pieces are personally sourced by Jenny and transformed using vintage and designer fabrics, and professional paint techniques. Each item is individually customised to ensure that no two pieces are the same.

Visit the website at www.jennybondinteriors.co.uk

'Songbird Robe' - image © Jenny Bond





















The FATC Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair is on Sunday 9th May at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11am - 4.30pm. Admission £5 adults, £3 for seniors & students (£2 off the general admission price from 11am to 11.30am).