Bring vintage glamour to this summer’s swimwear

50s beach.
vintage swimwear

Get influenced by vintage swimwear this summer. Picture via flickr by Genibee

As the sun finally shines through the clouds, and we say goodbye to winter, all anybody can think about is their summer holidays and basking in the sunshine. Even if you’re not going away this summer, we’re bound to have the usual one day heatwave so you can lay out in your garden or the nearest park and work on your summer tan.

Every year swimwear floods the high street around this time, and is the perfect summer investment to add to your collection. We all feel great in a new glamorous swimsuit, right?

This year, it’s all about vintage inspiration taking over the high street, I’ve picked the best out there to stand out at the seaside.

To work this summer’s retro look and hide problem areas, check out Topshop’s monochrome black scallop stripe bikini at £30.This bikini reminds me of the stylish sixties, and will ensure you stand out for all the right reasons on the beach.

If you prefer to cover up by the poolside, Topshop also do this cute ditsy floral number that echos wartime glamour. It’s so great to see a wealth of stylish one pieces on the high street that will flatter any figure.

To show off that beach body you’ve worked hard for, or are naturally blessed with, Kelly Brook’s range for New Look is a perfect port of call. While we can’t all have Kelly Brook’s body, her swimwear is inspired by classic glamour. This fifties inspired bikini is timeless and will turn heads.

Finally, if you’re looking for value for money, and will be packing light this summer, this ASOS Triangle Bikini Top In Reversible Spot/Gingham might just be what your looking for. Allowing you to choose from polka dot and gingham, you can reverse the style easily to achieve the look you want, or why not mix and match?

With British Summer Time starting last weekend, we can’t wait for longer and warmer days and to jet off on our all important holidays!

Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair

Affordable vintage fair logoAfter many long awaited months, the travelling vintage fair came back to Lincoln’s Engine Shed so I could rummage my way through some vintage bargains.

The vintage fair covers 22 cities including Nottingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, Brighton and London. It offers an abundance of vintage stalls selling affordable vintage items, for vintage lovers.

Usually vintage can be expensive, but the fair offers bargains and excellent gems if you’re willing to jostle and rummage.

I’ve been a vintage enthusiast for five years now but apart from the odd trip to Camden, I don’t have great access to vintage items apart from online and the odd section in boutiques.

Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair understands the demand for vintage fashion and the lack of access there is to it.

The other great thing about a post Christmas vintage fair? SALES.

As someone who admires vintage fashion, but often doesn’t find anything wearable, my eye was drawn to a red gingham shirt at the first stall. An old men’s shirt, it had been altered so it was tighter and elasticated at the waist, and much more flattering for a woman’s figure. The sleeves had also been altered to create that rolled up ¾ length look.

And that’s the great thing about these stalls, they bother to alter them to make them wearable for modern day. It’s all very well rummaging in charity shops, but unless you want to look like you’ve stepped out of a time warp, you need to make it suit your style and modern conventions.

Next my eye was caught by a dress, a silky white top sewn onto a floral vintage pattern skirt. The perfect mix of modern and vintage styles, ladylike but trendy. The dress reminded me of what I often find in boutiques. The perfect mix of past and present.

The shirt was £10 and the dress £12, both in the sale. For £22 I got two great items, which would often be the price for just one of these on the high street.

From 30s to 80s, there were clothes from every decade to choose from. Think 70s dizzying prints and 80s padded shoulders. An inspiring step through time for any fashion lover.

For those not daring enough to dress vintage, accessories were in abundance. From handmade jewellery to vintage bags from every decade. With satchels still popular on the high street, and another burst of popularity still to come, vintage is an excellent way to go so you don’t find yourself one of many with the same bag. As well as at a fraction of the price and better made. In the past, things were made to last, rather than cheap fast shoddily made fashion we have on our high street today.

Rummaging through each stalls many vintage bags, suddenly a beacon shone out at me. A white vintage Chanel bag. My heart skipped a beat and as I held it in my hands, it felt so wonderful. Seeing my eyes lit up, the vintage dealer approached me, I asked how much. “£30, we were just talking about it.”

“Oh, it’s a fake?” I sighed.

“No, we think it’s real, but somebody’s cut the serial number out which is annoying. With it, we could sell it for loads.”

I sighed and looked at it. Should I spend £30? I ummed and ahhed, and finally left it at the stall. It could be a fake, and I thought maybe I should wait until I could afford the real thing. In hindsight, a mistake, I still can’t get that gorgeous bag out my head. When I went back to the stall, it was gone.

You win some and lose some when it comes to vintage. Thankfully the fair had a tea and cake stall, where I could drown my sorrows with tea in a vintage cup and saucer and the most delicious cupcakes I’d ever tasted. One taste of a moist moreish sponge and sweet creamy frosting is enough to console anyone’s heart.

A cheat’s guide to vintage

Vintage style has gone mainstream in the past few years, and can come with a hefty price tag. Many great vintage pieces can be hard to get hold of, so here is a cheat’s guide to doing vintage for less .

1. It doesn’t necessarily need to be vintage.

You can get a great vintage look, without even buying anything vintage. Many high street shops are getting their inspiration from vintage styles and mass-producing them for a cheaper price. Topshop is often a great port of call, but also be sure to check out Pearl Lowe’s collection at Peacocks, her vintage inspired dress designs will make you look like a glamorous forties housewife with effortless easy style.

2. Go for modern remakes of vintage designs.

It doesn’t need to be the real deal, when it looks the same. Vivien of Holloway sell great 50s inspired dresses that look like the real thing. So instead of trawling through hundreds of vintage stores for that iconic fifties dress, that’s too small or smells weird, why not go for something shiny and new and made for you? They also sell great forties swing trousers, as well as tea dresses. Some of it is a little pricey, but if you’re looking for an investment or special occasion it’s a great place to check out.

3. Wear modern clothes in a vintage way.

You’d be surprised how your modern clothes can easily look vintage with a bit of smart styling. Team a high-waisted mid-length skirt, with a tucked-in  tee or blouse. Add tights and court shoes and voila!
Or you can always revamp some of your dresses with a waist belt. Leopard print is a great way to go, and everywhere this season (Take some tips from Bette Lynch). Just stand in front of your wardrobe and experiment.

4. It’s all in the hair.

Try some vintage hairstyles to give your look that classic edge. Think Bridget Bardot and get that bouffant high and proud. Simply section off the top part of your hair and backcomb, apply hairspray and backcomb some more. Get height to your hair, push up and clip in place. It may take a few goes and a lot of hairspray but it’s worth it. Or you can channel your inner T-Bird and work your fringe into a quiff. Again a lot of backcombing and hairspray is in order, but you’ll be a vintage vixen by the end.

5. Accessorise!

For bags, raid your local charity shops. You’ll be amazed at the amount of handbags dropped off there, and they are sometimes the only decent thing found in charity shops (apart from the odd pretty scarf).
A little accessorising can go a long way, and like clothes, a lot of modern jewellery is being inspired by vintage designs. Freedom at Topshop is your best bet with its bangles, big earrings, and kitsch necklaces.

Picture by yatenkaiouh via Flickr