HANDMADE WITH LUV

Another first-timer at the next Frock Around The Clock is Luvlii who will be selling a selection of vintage handbags and also handmade bags and dresses crafted from vintage fabrics and trimmings.

Brighten up your wardrobe and your day with beautiful citrus colours of orange, lemon and lime.

Luvlii items are handmade by Paula Trainor in her little cottage in the heart of the Mourne Mountains.

Visit Luvlii on Folksy and now also at Frock Around The Clock on 6th February.

LOVING SPOONFUL

Making a debut at the February Frock Around The Clock is Loving Spoonful, specialising in rings and bracelets handcrafted from antique silver spoons, sugar tongs and forks.

It is thought that the spoon ring first appeared in the 1600s when servants who couldn't afford silver or other precious metals for wedding rings stole silverware from their masters to craft into rings.

As with all wedding rings, a spoon ring denotes love, commitment and responsibility and therefore makes a unique and romantic gift for your Valentine.

And by choosing a gift that is recycled from something that already exists, the impact on the environment is reduced.

You can find the Loving Spoonful store on Folksy, and now also at the February Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair.



PRETTY LITTLE THINGS

Following on with the preview of new exhibitors who will be at the Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair on 6th February, we take a look at some gorgeous craftings from Kellie Mairs of It's The Little Things.

Kellie's handmade and refashioned jewellery, accessories, stationery and homeware ranges perfectly combine the things that we love - pretty trinkets, vintage images and recycled materials.

My favourites are the recycled domino brooches decoupaged with a variety of vintage images, the recycled bottle top magnets, and the beautiful handcrafted gift tags and stationery. I will definitely be treating myself with a few of these on 6th February.

You can purchase Kellie's designs from her website, and from her shop on Folksy, and now you can make your selection in person at Frock Around The Clock.

More information on Frock Around The Clock and all the other Decadence Vintage Events can be found at http://www.northernirelandvintage.com/

HOW TO WEAR VINTAGE

When I ran my Decadence vintage boutique, one of the things I used to tell customers is 'vintage is not a costume; you can either make or break an outfit with vintage and the trick is not to overdo it if you are aiming for a stylish look'.

© Aidan Monaghan

Some people are born with an innate (and enviable) ability to put together an effortlessly stylish look, while others would like to be more creative with what they wear but don't know how to successfully integrate vintage into a contemporary wardrobe. 

© Aidan Monaghan

We would all love the ability to style our heirloom pieces and our vintage purchases so that we look chic and confident, not outdated and drab, so I am very excited that Image Consultant, Glamour Stylist and Personal Shopper Lynsey Hakin of 'Image Confident Vintage' will be joining us at our next Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair on 6th February.

© Aidan Monaghan

Through Image Confident, Lynsey works with her clients to improve outer image and promote elegance, beauty, presentability, and well-being through enhanced confidence, and now visitors to Frock Around The Clock will be able to avail of her services and learn how to create a vintage look without looking as though they have just stepped off the set of a costume drama!

© Aidan Monaghan

Wearing vintage is not about following rules, in fact for most of its devotees the appeal lies in turning your back on fashion trends to be individually stylish, but for those who are new to vintage, advice on how to integrate vintage into a modern wardrobe to achieve that individual twist is invaluable. Knowing how to make a timeless classic the focal piece of an outfit, or how to add interest to a modern outfit with vintage accessories, is a necessary tool in the vintage girl's bag of style tricks and one that is now within reach for us all.

© Aidan Monaghan

More information on Frock Around The Clock.

FINDINGS OF A MAGPIE

Are you looking for inspiration for a Valentine's gift? We love the handcrafted designs by Catriona McCambridge at Orio. Her 'Findings of a Magpie' collection is based on the use of 'new to me' materials including previously-loved clothing, buttons and brooches. Choose from cuffs, necklaces, brooches and hair accessories.

Catriona sells her beautiful creations on Etsy but they are also stocked by the exclusive Una Rodden boutique in Belfast and The Boudoir in Dungannon, and on February 6th they will also be available to purchase at Frock Around The Clock.

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair is on Sunday 6th February which takes place at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11am to 4.30pm. Admission costs £5 for adults and £3 for seniors and students. See http://www.northernirelandvintage.com/ for more information.

PIMP MY PLATE

We can't get enough of pretty vintage china at our vintage fairs so lucky for us that we have a new seller coming along to our February outing of Frock Around The Clock with a new take on an old idea.

Me Auld China will be travelling from Dublin to Belfast on 6th February with their stash of china cake-stands created from authentic vintage matching and mismatched crockery, and we can't wait to get our hands on them!

Me Auld China use plates from Edwardian times through to the Art Deco period to make single, double or triple tiered cake stands of all shapes and sizes, with patterns ranging from shabby chic to vintage elegance.

All cake stands made by Me Auld China are one-of-a-kind, ensuring that your purchase is truly unique and individual. And if you want something a little more personal you can opt for their 'Pimp My Plate' service to give your old plates a new lease of life. A lovely idea if you have sentimental or heirloom pieces of china that you want to showcase.

You can contact Me Auld China from their website or from their facebook page. Better still, come along and meet them at the Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair on Sunday 6th February which takes place at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast from 11am to 4.30pm.

Admission costs £5 for adults and £3 for seniors and students. For more information visit http://www.northernirelandvintage.com/.

LIMITED EDITIONS

Rita Hayworth © Sara O'Neill

Not only can you find the most fabulous collection of vintage clothing, jewellery and homewares at Frock Around The Clock, but Northern Ireland's leading vintage fair is also home to a hotbed of home-grown and talented designers.

One of the latest people to bring their talents along to Frock Around The Clock is fashion stylist and illustrator Sara O'Neill who will be selling illustrative artworks that range from beautiful images of vintage icons emanating raw emotion to modernist portrayals of contemporary idols.




Sophia Loren © Sara O'Neill





Billie Holiday © Sara O'Neill





Girl With The Gun Earring © Sara O'Neill





The Face, July 1990 © Sara O'Neill


If this taster has left you hungry for more, you will be able to satisfy your appetite for Sara's limited edition prints at the next Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair. But hands off Rita, she's mine!

Frock Around The Clock

Sunday 6th February, 11am - 4.30pm

@ Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast BT2 8HS

Admission: Adults £5, Seniors & Students £3

NEW YEAR COUNTDOWN

After a long break from blogging over the Christmas and New Year period I'm back for the countdown to our first vintage fair of 2011. Frock Around The Clock will take place on Sunday 6th February and we can't wait! In past years the February fair has been the busiest of the year so we are gearing up for a fabulous time.

There are lots of updates coming over the next couple of weeks to let you know what's in store for vintage lovers, but first here is our Events Calendar for 2011.

Sunday 6th February - Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair

Sunday 6th March - The Retro Rooms Show - Vintage Interiors & Design

Sunday 3rd April - Totally Bazaar - Vintage & Handmade Fair

Sunday 12th June - Decadence Vintage Bridal Fair

Sunday 2nd October - The Retro Rooms Show - Vintage Interiors & Design

Sunday 6th November - Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair

Sunday 4th December - Totally Bazaar - Vintage & Handmade Fair

We haven't booked any of our summer dates yet as we are still looking for a venue, but I will keep you updated.