ALL THE SMALL THINGS

At Frock Around The Clock we love bargain buys. The purse is a little light at this time of year (except when we see a fabulous pair of shoes of course) so we were overjoyed to find lots of little affordable goodies at our February vintage fair.

Fabulous choice and prices to suit all pockets meant that whether you had come with the intention of making a luxury purchase, or with the objective of making your pocket money stretch as far as possible, you wouldn't be disappointed or leave empty-handed. Here are some of the pretty little things that we loved.

Opera bag from Anne's Antiques

A selection of old jewellery boxes from Dream Jewels

Owl necklaces from Stray Jewellery

Clip on earrings from A M Antiques

Matchboxes from Vintage Is A Girl's Best Friend

Owl earrings from Beadalicious

Bathing Beauty Cocktail Set from Kirkmodern

Glitter and sparkle from Strictly Vintage

Dolls, bears and miniature teaset from The Optimists

Pocket watch necklaces from Innocent Chaos

Gloves, brooch and clock from After Sybil

A selection of goodies from Roisin Purdy

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Decadence didn't have a stall at the February FATC, but the upside was that inbetween all my organiser duties I was actually able to get around the whole vintage fair to see what everyone else was selling. That was a first!

Armed with my vintage camera, held together with selotape, I was on a mission to get some great images for the website. It was very difficult to choose my favourite fab finds, but here are just a few.

Dresses and accessories from After Sybil. I just adore the 1950s shoes with lucite heels.

Vintage accessories, vanity items, ephemera and jewellery from Sandra Crawford Antiques. So much choice, but how to choose?! The silver and turquoise pendant necklace on the right now has a new home in my jewellery cabinet.

Wonderful offerings from Fabulous Vintage. The handpainted silk shawl above left is utterly gorgeous, while the embroidered brown leather gloves above right and the blue shoes to the left were my absolute favourites. Simply to die for!

Gorgeous goodies from Little Blue Cottage. Colourful tights and stockings bang on trend, a 1950s cotton swimsuit as sweet as sugar candy, and a 1920s lace dress, truly divine!

A shimmering gold 1950s Frank Usher prom dress and deadstock girdle from Revamp.

Mid 20th Century design from Kirkmodern.

Hats galore and adorable girly lace dresses from Granny's Attic.

Pretty In Pink, 1950s flocked chiffon party dress and Betty Boop at The Old Tea Rose Antiques.

WEDDING BELLES

The flyers for our first Vintage Fashion & Bridal Fair arrived this morning. They are perfect! Now it may be 4 months to the big event but I am excited already! There has been a lot of interest shown in this vintage fair, and not just by brides-to-be. The event will incorporate fabulous vintage bridal fashions & accessories with vintage special occasion wear, jewellery and all the usual trimmings found at our regular fairs, so it aims to satisfy the  lusts of vintage shopping addicts as well as brides, mothers and guests.

A couple of exhibitors brought along some taster items to our February event so that I could get some advertising images, and our resident retro hairstylist Kelly had fun trying on a gorgeous bridal gown from Banshee Vintage that made her look somewhat like a silver screen goddess.

 

Brenda from Dream Jewels had brought along one of her prized possessions; a silk and lace gown dating c1850. It caused quite a stir and more than a few murmers of admiration. Needless to say, no-one was brave enough to try this museum piece on no matter how robust it was. The colours and the detail are amazing:

I was also smitten by this vintage head dress and these pretty bridal posies from Dream Jewels. I wonder what tales of vintage romance and love they could tell?

The Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fashion & Bridal Fair will take place on Sunday 13th June 2010 at Malone House, Barnett Demesne, Belfast from 12 noon - 5pm. Watch this space for more details coming soon.

TALES OF OLD CHINA

Demonstrating clever ideas with vintage ojects we had two new exhibitors at February's vintage fair showing off their entrepreneurial flair for leasing new life into the old.

First up were the girls behind Wicked China. A simple but effective use of pretty china cups and plates, made useful as candlesticks, soap dishes and toiletry holders were popular and pretty gift purchases. So popular in fact that the girls had to send out an SOS to their family asking them to rush down to the Holiday Inn with fresh stocks to replenish their supplies!

Also joining us for the first time was Little Lo Lo's House, selling re-worked vintage jewellery, handbags, vinyl record clocks, cushions made from vintage material and brooches made from vintage fabrics. The vinyl record clocks proved to be very popular and provided an eye catching display.

And if there wasn't a clock to suit your taste in music why not do as one quick thinking customer did? Make a visit to the Vinyl Countdown stand, choose an old LP from your favourite artist and ask Little Lo Lo's House to customise it for you!

Wicked China and Little Lo Lo's House will be back at our next Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair on 9th May.

SUGAH RUSH

Hooray for the lovely ladies at Sugahfix.com who always manage to get some fabulous snaps of the style at FATC. The same lovely ladies who always go the extra mile to promote our vintage fairs.

To view their Style Spotter images from our last event on 7th February, please click the link.

If you haven't subscribed to Sugahfix.com yet, you are strongly urged to do so. It has been making life taste sweeter for Northern Ireland fashionistas for 2 years now, bringing style and beauty news, and lots of special offers straight to your inbox, delivering sugah fixes just when needed. Oh, and it is free to subscribe so don't wait any longer!

Laura of Fast Fashion was also snapping the lens at FATC and you can view her images at her blog belfastfashion.blogspot.com. Used to capturing striking styles on the streets of Belfast she always manages to portray vibrancy and personality in her images.

ONE, TWO, THREE O'CLOCK, FOUR O'CLOCK, FROCK

Our Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair on Sunday 7th February was a great success with around 900 people turning out for Northern Ireland's favourite shopping experience. It was great to see more young people than usual in the visiting crowd, and it was fabulous that so many of them had dressed up for the occasion, each demonstrating a unique sense of style. Here are some of our photos from the day.



The fabulous Sandra Lemon - so happy to be at FATC!!

This glamorous lady was lucky enough to have just had her hair styled by Kelly at the retro hairdressing stand. I'd be smiling too if I looked that good!

Always a fan of a bold statement, I'm loving Lauren's stylish polka dot and floral combination.

Charles is revealing a rather devilish streak today.
























We all coveted that pretty bag!
























More fabulous arm candy on the arm of Claire of the Make Up Boutique.
























These two friends had to be my favourites, not least because they worked my favourite colour with such attitude. Yes, black is a colour Mum!
























Tartan frocks rock!

FROCK IT TO ME

Don't forget that this Sunday brings the return of the fabulous Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fashion & Textile Fair. To celebrate our first event of the year we have a special offer for early birds - we are offering a reduced entrance price for the first half hour of the day. Arrive between 11am and 11.30am and gain access to the Vintage Fair with £2 off the normal entry price. That means that the reduced entrance rate will be £3 for Adults and only £1 for Seniors and Students of 16 plus!!


This Vintage Af-fair will be running from 11am to 4.30pm on Sunday 7th February at the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast (opposite the BBC). Normal entrance costs £5 for adults & £3 for Seniors and Students of 16+

40 exhibitors will be providing the perfect playground for fashionistas with clothing, accessories and jewellery from the early 1900s to the 1980s, unique vintage and retro homewares for the fashionable home, and recycled fashions and accessories for the eco-conscious shopper. There will also be vinyl records, vintage toys and dolls, vanity items and much more, as well as the chance to book a course in retro applique, baking or marmalade making! Fancy a bit of glamour? Stop by the retro hairdressing stand and have your tresses transformed into a glamorous updo or tumbling waves for only £10.

AND THE BRIDE WORE VINTAGE

Ireland's first bridal vintage fair is arriving in 2010. Frock Around The Clock will be presenting the fabulous Vintage Fashion & Bridal Fair on 13th June, at Malone House in Belfast. The late Georgian mansion, home of the Higgin art gallery, is the perfect setting for this glamorous and decadent event. Around 35 exhibitors will be selling vintage bridal gowns & accessories, special occasion vintage clothing & accessories, jewellery, china and glassware, vanity items and other treasures. Hair and beauty treatments will also be available on the day.

Malone House
Barnett Demesne
Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 5PB

Location Map

Doors open 12 - 5pm

Entrance £5

Keep checking the website for more information!

VINTAGE SUNDAYS

Frock Around The Clock is introducing a series of new vintage fairs for 2010. Vintage Sundays at the Empire will take place at the Empire Music Hall on Botanic Avenue, Belfast on the following Sundays: 7th March, 11th April, 4th July and 1st August.

Featuring around 18 sellers of vintage clothing, accessories, jewellery and decor items, the events will be no less fabulous than the large Vintage Fashion & Textile Fairs that Frock Around The Clock host at the Holiday Inn.

Doors open from 12 - 4.30pm. Entrance costs £2 and refreshments will be available in the upper balcony overlooking the fair.

Visit the website for more information.