Thursday, March 29, 2012

Leamington Spa Vintage Wedding Fair

Last weekend we set up stand at the Leamington Spa Vintage Wedding Fair and we can certainly mark our first venture into vintage fairs a success - aching feet being the only downside we can think of!  Here are some photos from the day.....


Our van - not even fully loaded yet.  Will it all go in?

Its a tight fit!

Part of our stand.....

Our stand - the slip rail

Minutes before the doors open....

Busy!


Thursday, March 22, 2012

Saturday, March 17, 2012

British spy protects St.Michael

If you are not British it'll be hard to fully understand the impact a single company has had on the psyche and fabric of the United Kingdom.  It is no exaggeration - its like red double decker buses, friendly bobbies, zebra crossings, driving on the left, and all the rest of those quirky things that identify our nation. So it is with Marks & Spencer.  Like the ravens in the Tower, if Marks & Spencer ever disappeared from British life then, well, that's it - we're really finished - 'will the last person to leave Britain please turn the lights out'.



Marks and Spencer fashions, once under the famous 'St.Michael' brand, ruled supreme for shoppers looking for well made, solid, reliable clothes.  Their lingerie, especially in the 1950's and 60's, was exquisite.  As a vintage lingerie seller who has sold literally scores of St.Michael slips over the years, I have noticed something - the almost complete absence of information available on the internet relating to their styles, labels, fabrics etc.  Look as hard as you like - you won't find much at all.

So - here is some really good news!  The one-time head of the UK's internal security service MI5 (a bit like 'M' in the Bond movies) has just opened the brand new Marks & Spencer Company Archive building in Leeds.  Better than that, its open to the public!  All the St.Michael resources you can shake a stick at and great for someone like me who likes to have and offer some background to the items I sell.  Its only an hour's drive from here, so I feel a trip to the fair city of Leeds coming on......I can't wait!

Says M&S (as they now call themselves):


DAME STELLA RIMINGTON OPENS M&S COMPANY ARCHIVE BUILDING AT UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

Former Head of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington, opened the doors of the new M&S Company Archive at the University of Leeds today (Friday 16th March).
Dame Stella was joined by M&S Chairman, Robert Swannell and University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Arthur, to reveal the three-story Michael Marks Building to the public for the first time.
Made possible through a unique partnership between M&S and the University of Leeds, the building houses M&S' full Company Archive of more than 70,000 items and includes expansion space for collections from the University library.
Dame Stella has an active interest in the launch of the Michael Marks Building due to her current role as a member of the governing body for the M&S Archive Community Interest Company (CIC) *, background as an archivist and previous work with M&S.
The opening day celebrations mark the exciting next phase of the project, which began three years ago in M&S' 125th anniversary year, with the announcement of the permanent relocation of the archive from London to Leeds.
With the bespoke new building now complete and located on the University's Western Campus, this unique collection is now accessible to the public for the very first time, and has also opened up the collection to academics and students for research, teaching and learning.
Highlights from the collection are now on display in a dedicated area in the new building and will be regularly updated. The exhibition is designed to walk visitors through M&S' 128 year history, charting the company's progress from the first buttons sold on Michael Marks' Penny Bazaar stall in Leeds' Kirkgate Market and highlighting the product innovation and business growth that have established M&S as the iconic British retailer we know today.
The building's bespoke design also comprises conference facilities, a dedicated reading room facilitating direct access to the items, temperature and humidity controlled units to house M&S' vast collections and additional space for archived items from the University's extensive library collections and staff areas.
Robert Swannell, M&S Chairman said: “We're proud to have opened the doors of this impressive new building which is the result of a successful and prosperous partnership between M&S and the University of Leeds.
“The hard work and commitment that has gone into making this possible means that the history of M&S as an iconic British retailer is accessible for all to enjoy and will continue to evolve back in the city where it all began on Michael Marks' Penny Bazaar stall for many more years to come.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds, Professor Michael Arthur, said: “Our partnership with Marks & Spencer represents a new model for how a world-leading university and an iconic FTSE 100 company can work together.
“The partnership provides a solid platform for the future, and has already delivered successes for both organisations. The new Michael Marks Building is a fantastic resource for staff and students, the company and the community.”
The rich archive collection includes business papers, advertising materials and merchandise such as clothing, toys and household items. It is expected to be of particular interest to staff and students working in subjects including business, economics, textiles, arts, history, communications, marketing, colour chemistry, food sciences and the social sciences.
Admission to the exhibition is free. A regular programme of events** will also run throughout the year. For further information visitwww.marksintime.marksandspencer.com

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Saints alive!



A really lovely vintage 1970s black nylon full slip by St.Michael, under their famous 'blue label'.  The bust is a double layer of sheer, see through nylon with tiny embroidered floral designs on the outer layer with a pretty lace inset under the bust and fine lace edging.  The hem has fine lace decoration all round.  Its always nice to have the best lingerie from Marks and Spencer in stock and this particular slip is a near mint example of a 70's St.Michael slip.

There are lots of saints, but St.Michael made the best slips!





1960s vintage pleated full slip in pale lilac

Pretty deep pleats to the hemline and delicate ivory lace adorn the crossover bust of this very pretty pale lilac 1960's full slip. The straps are non-adjustable, which is typical of slips from Europe. The fabric is a super soft nylon in a really lovely delicate pale lilac colour. So pretty, and an authentic 1960's classic from Germany



Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Perfect for Mother's Day

With Mother's Day just around the corner, here's a 50's gift suggestion from Sliperfection for under $3.  A real bargain, I'd say....


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Coming to the Leamington Spa Vintage Wedding Fair

On our stand at the Leamington Spa Vintage Wedding Fair, this adorable peach dress.  I think its early 1950's, maybe a little earlier.  What do you think?


Unlined, handmade, no labels.

Lighning brand zipper with metal teeth.

Florida Fashions

I just love these 50s ads for Florida Fashions - oh, those prices!




Sunday, March 11, 2012

Reslaw hats of London, W1

New in my collection is this lovely 1940's hat under the Reslaw label, by Paul Walser & Co Ltd of Great Marlborough Street, London W1.  Strange brand name?  Not really - it is 'Walser' spelled backwards!







A 1940's Reslaw ad

Cornflower in spring....



A really lovely late 1960s vintage full slip in lovely see-through cornflower 30 denier blue nylon.  Sweet, fine, darker contrasting deep lace to the bust  - decorated with a cute ribbon bow - and also lace decoration to the hemline.  So very pretty, and in near mint condition too.  Made in England by New Starkist.  Highly wearable and collectable.




An exceptional 1960's slip.....

Exceptional and absolutely stunning early 1960's double layer nylon full slip by Kayser as part of their 'Young in Heart' range.  The slip is seductively sheer, even though it has a double layer of nylon.  The inner layer is a wispy, completely sheer nylon, whilst the outer layer is the same with little tiny white dots.  Pretty, fine white lace adorns the bust and the hem is a double tier of lace.  In near mint condition, this absolutely adorable slip is highly collectable and wearable, not to mention rather rare.  We have so far never come across another example of this range, so we are certainly lucky to be able to offer it to you.








Saturday, March 10, 2012

Special offer! Vintage slips from $1.37 each

Sorry, but you are 54 years late.  This is the Sears catalogue of 1957 with some of their lovely slips on offer:

Click the image for the bigger picture

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Vintage Van Raalte

A quick search around the internet for vintage Van Raalte slip ads will produce many results, sadly of poor quality and fairly repetitious - the same ones keep turning up time and time again.  Well - here's three you won't see a lot of....

1957

1962

1944

Van Raalte slips are on sale in our DreamDate shop, like this cutie:


Click here for more on this slip

Outrageous eighties!

Outrageously 80's butterfly dress - Karen Okada 'Climax' collection for David Howard......





Available for sale on our stand at various vintage fashion fairs around the UK
- see elsewhere on this blog for details of venues, etc

From Norwich. Its......Norvic

Beautiful pair of 1960's Swiss Lace shoes by Norvic of Norwich, England.  Originally founded in 1846 by James Howlett, the company eventually became Howlett & White.  Sadly, the company closed in 1981.




For sale only on our stands at vintage fashion fairs in the UK
- see elsewhere on this blog for venues, dates, etc