HERE COME THE GIRLS!

We are made up to be joined at our first Vintage Sunday at the Empire (tomorrow) by Claire McEvoy of The Make Up Boutique. Fast becoming one of Ireland's top make-up artists, Claire is in high demand on photographic shoots for local magazines, model agencies and fashion shows, and also offers appointments for special occasion make-up, weddings and make-up lessons.

Claire's specialist skills and professional advice will now also be available at Frock Around The Clock. Lucky us. Between Claire and Kelly at the retro hairstyling stand, we can now get a full makeover inbetween all that shopping for vintage frocks. Here come the girls!

WELCOME TO THE TREASUREDOME!

Just in case you need reminding - don't forget that this weekend sees the debut of Vintage Sundays at the Empire. Frock Around The Clock brings you 18 sellers of vintage clothing, accessories, jewellery, furniture, collectables, vinyl records, and much more in the fabulous Empire Music Hall on Belfast's Botanic Avenue. Visit our website to see the exhibitor list.

Doors open from 12 Noon to 4.30pm. Admission costs only £2, and there will be a Coffee Stop / Tearoom in the upper balcony so you can chill out and soak up the atmosphere after making your purchases. Remember to arrive early to catch those bargains and fabulous pieces!

There is no better way to spend Sunday afternoon in Belfast!

BEEHIVE YOURSELF

One of the most popular hotspots with the ladies at Frock Around The Clock is the retro hairdressing stand where Kelly McLean, owner of Ashby Hair, is always in great demand to create vintage-style hairdos fit for a pin-up star.

There is nothing old-fashioned about retro hairstyles; in fact they are bang on trend right now. Glamorous updos and silver screen movie-star waves and pincurls are big news on the Hollywood red carpet, while Amy Winehouse has helped to make the new beehive as popular as 'The Pob' and 'The Rachael'.

Beehives are Kelly's speciality, and having teased her own hair to dizzy heights for a few years now, they should be as she has had plenty of practice! I have sat in Kelly's chair myself on a few occasions and all that backcombing and hairspraying never fails to draw an audience as you go through the transformation process. The end result always attracts lots of oohs and aahs and a rush of females fighting to be next in the hot seat. A beehive hairdo is perfect for adding height to those of a small stature and also makes the face look leaner, giving prominence to those important cheekbones. Very versatile, they can be made smooth and sleek for formal and glamorous occasions, or less perfect for a cutting edge rock-chick look.

Not brave enough to try the beehive? Don't worry for there are plenty more styles to choose from. Tumbling curls and waves are created with just a wave of Kelly's magic wand (okay, her curling irons) with an ease that I have never been able to master at home, while elegant victory rolls are achieved with a mere flick of the wrist, and sleek Lady Gaga-esque hair bows are a piece of cake.

Kelly will be teasing tresses at this weekend's Vintage Sunday at the Empire, where glamorous updos and curls can be achieved for only £10. Don't forget to check out her rail where she will be selling off some of her fabulous collection of vintage frocks!

SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THINGS NICE

The Decadence Vintage stall at this weekend's Vintage Sunday will be a bit different from the usual vintage clothing and accessories that they specialise in. Instead they will be selling pretty, girly pieces - perfect for treating yourself, your girlfriend or your Mum (remember Mother's Day is just around the corner!)

Expect to find bone china teapots, cream and sugar sets, and cups and saucers in pretty ice-cream colours and florals. Also snowy white linens and lace, antique postcards and photographs, mirrors and pictures, large jugs and bowls and embroidered handkerchief sets.

There are also 1950s fans, a musical jewellery box, a paper and bamboo parasol and a lovely vintage vanity case packed with its original make up. Beautiful decor items for a vintage bedroom.

I love the 1940s/1950s magazine advertisements which are perfect for framing - so much nicer than modern replicas!

VINTAGE GROOVE

Vinyl Countdown will have a stall at this weekend's Vintage Sunday at the Empire selling vinyl records of all eras and musical genres.

Expect to find singles dating from the 1950s through to the 1980s and LPs categorised into Punk / New Wave / Reggae / Ska, Eclectic Listening, Classical, Hard Rock / Metal, Country & Folk, Jazz, and Rock / Pop.

Vinyl Countdown has a 'More You Buy, The More You Save' policy. An easy and affordable way to build up your collection of the fantastic plastic. Track them down at the Belfast Empire this Sunday to avail of this offer.

JEANIUS

Lulu Rose Vintage will be appearing at the first Vintage Sunday at the Empire on 7th March, and owner Rosie Moore will be bringing along a stash of vintage Levis which can be 'Customised While You Wait'.

Purchase a pair of old Levi jeans and have them slashed, frayed, shredded, or turned into cut-offs of your desired length by Mrs Sew and Sew herself. Whatever you want, you give the instruction and Rosie provides the destruction! (Not that we would condone destroying a pair of Levis, but for the sake of rhyming you get the gist).

Rosie will also be selling her new line of customised t-shirts. Be the first to own one of these limited edition designs - plain t-shirts in black or white embellished with retro applique designs using recycled and vintage fabrics.

We know the frost is set to stay for a while but these look great layered over long sleeve tops with cut-off Levis worn with tights and boots to see you through the rest of the winter.

JUMP TO THE BEAT

Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fairs recommend 8 TO THE BAR, a new retro club brought to you by the lovely people at Bellehoppers. The first event takes place on Friday 5th March at Belfast's Black Box from 7.30pm to midnight. The night will kick off with a free basic swing dance class at 7.45pm to help you take to the floor. Then with DJs spinning the coolest tunes you can enjoy the atmosphere or dance Charleston to happy jazz, Lindy to big band swing or get down and dirty to the blues.

Dressing up for the occasion is encouraged so get your best vintage outfit out of the closet and girls apply lashings of red lipstick. Don't have a vintage frock? Don't worry as there are several places in Belfast  that can help - Best Vintage on Ann Street, Bang Boutique on Church Lane (opposite Muriel's Bar), Rusty Zip on Botanic Avenue and Oxfam Vintage on Castle Street.

And with the following 8 TO THE BAR date set for 15th May there is no excuse not to get all frocked up in vintage as Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fairs will be appearing at the Belfast Empire on Sundays 7th March and 11th April and at the Holiday Inn on 9th May.

Admission to 8 TO THE BAR costs £5 and is payable at the door.

MAMA MIA

Mothering Sunday is on 14th March, and if you are looking for gift ideas to show your Mum how much she is appreciated you can't go far wrong with popping along to the first Vintage Sunday at the Empire on 7th March.

With 18+ vintage dealers on board there will be a large variety of unique and interesting gift ideas on display and available to purchase. Vintage clothing and accessories dating from the early 1900s to the 1980s will be available from Lulu Rose Vintage, Jel Vintage, Fabulous Vintage, Banshee Vintage, Betty Bankhead, Angela O'Brien and Old Tea Rose Antiques, while jewellery will be in abundance at the stalls of Norma Jean Vintage, Sandra Crawford Antiques, Old Mill Collectables and Old Tea Rose Antiques.

If your Mum is into music you can pick up something from her favourite artist at the Vinyl Countdown stand, or visit Little Lo Lo's House where old vinyl records have been recycled into clocks. Beautiful vanity items like perfume bottles, compacts and dressing table sets are the speciality of Sandra Crawford Antiques, who also have a lovely collection of opera glasses.

If something for the home is what your Mum would love there will be stylish furniture and home decor items from Kirkmodern and Retrorumage, while floral china, mirrors and pictures will be available at a number of the other stalls. The paper art creations of Vintage Paperworks make fabulous gifts, as do the bone china candle holders and soap dishes from Wicked China.

And if by some very slim chance you can't find anything in this emporium of vintage delights that would please your Mum, you could always purchase a gift voucher from the Ashby Hairstyling stand!

THIS IS THE MODERN WORLD

Geoff Kirk of Kirkmodern and Paul Byrne of Retrorumage, Dublin-based businesses specialising in Mid 20th Century Design, will be appearing at the first Vintage Sunday at the Empire (the new Frock Around The Clock vintage fair at the Belfast Empire) on 7th March, showcasing a fabulous collection of classic designs in furniture, lighting, ceramics and home decor items.

Springtime is the traditional time to give your living space a facelift, and vintage fairs offer a great opportunity for picking up unique and original designs for the home. Kirkmodern and Retrorumage add a new dimension to Frock Around The Clock appealing to design-savvy individuals, couples and collectors who favour a chic and modern look.

Tina by JH Lynch, 1962

Kirkmodern specialises in Scandinavian and post war British design, featuring classic pieces by leading designers such as Stig Lindberg, Jessie Tait and Terence Conran. Expect to find coffee tables, clocks and ceramics as well as bold and unusual designs like the 1960s Toot-a-Loop transistor radio, the 1960s Sputnik Rocket Lamp and the 1950s Zebrette Vase.

1960s Toot-a-Loop Transistor Radio

Geoff is no stranger to Frock Around The Clock, having exhibited at our vintage fairs in May 2009 and February 2010. His bright and colourful wares have a wonderful contemporary feel, perfect for the modernist home and provide a stylish alternative to the abundance of bone china and chintz. Visit the Kirkmodern website and Geoff's blog for the latest news and to be the first to know about new arrivals.

1950s Zebrette Vase - Beswick

The Retrorumage collection is likely to include such pieces as 1970s coffee tables, G-plan sideboards, 1960s chairs and smaller items such as retro clocks and telephones. This is vintage for the modern world.

Paul has built up a great reputation as a regular dealer at the Dublin Flea Market and the Newmarket Brocante where he has an ever-changing display of furniture and collectables on show. Visit his blog to keep updated on new pieces arriving all the time.

The first Vintage Sunday at the Empire takes place on Sunday 7th March at the Empire Music Hall, 42 Botanic Avenue, Belfast from 12 noon to 4.30pm. Other vintage dealers will be selling vintage clothing and accessories, jewellery, vanity items, vinyl records and much more. Admission costs £2.

Other 2010 dates for Vintage Sundays at the Empire are 11th April, 4th July and 1st August.

This is the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon in Belfast; shopping for vintage with your partner, family, friends, or having some quality time to yourself. The Empire Music Hall has the perfect ambience to match our vintage fairs and with refreshments available to purchase at the fair, and hot food served in the basement bar, you have the perfect excuse to stay all day.

1960s Sputnik Rocket Lamp

CRAFTY DEVILS

At Frock Around The Clock we are proud of our dedication to recycling through the wearing and selling of vintage clothing and other treasures. Our Vintage Fashion and Textile Fairs also include a small group of clever creatives who specialise in handmade items fashioned from vintage or recycled textiles. Here are some of the crafty devils who appeared at our February vintage fair at the Holiday Inn.

Salvage Kitten is the brainchild of my lovely sister Rachael. Her hand made creations are crocheted from wool that she salvages from old knitted garments, and are then trimmed with unusual vintage buttons that she rescues from old clothing, Granny's button tin and vintage sewing boxes.

Having inherited the knack of crocheting from our grandmother, she is able to conjure up all manner of pretty things from her salvaged materials. Popular favourites are her lacy hats and cuffs, while her gingerbread men Christmas tree decorations sold like hot cakes at our November fair.


Eve of Vintage Paperworks is a textile and paper artist who produces fabulous paper art using discarded materials such as vintage maps and dressmaking patterns. Popular creations at FATC are her pretty paper dress pictures which are available either framed or unframed.

Rosie of Lulu Rose creates beautiful hats and jackets under her Aubergine Lining label. These are hand made from recycled textiles, with contrasting linings and fabulous fabric bows. These unique, one-off designs feature interesting textures, quirky colour combinations, and special details.

Rosie is also a keen knitter and produces a range of colourful knitted hats under the label of Loopy Yarns.

Clare of Little Hooligan creates vintage-inspired handknits for babies using vintage knitting patterns. These are then hand finished using vintage buttons and trimmings.