Click to read The Frockery's latest blog: The end is nigh for trash fashion.

24 August 2008

It's the bank holiday weekend and we have had a very busy week sending orders across the country and beyond. While frocks are our best sellers, customers have also been snapping up coats, capes and jackets in anticipation of colder days to come.

One of our favourite new arrivals is this vintage 60s dress in a generous size 14. We are just about to add it to the catalogue along with more fab frockery, so please stay bookmarked!

13 August 2008

It's been something of a hectic week catching up with the backlog from our holidays, so thanks to all our customers for their patience. We hope you will keep a eye on our catalogue for a new selection of vintage and recycled frockery which should be appearing over the next few days.

According to news reports, lavish weddings have become the latest casualties of the credit crunch, as brides search out bargains while cutting back on unnecessary expenditure for their big day. We are pleased to report that one young lady we know who is getting married next month recently bought her dress and shoes from The Frockery for less than £40, so Gok Wan has some serious competition when it comes to affordable fashion!

Increasingly, and not before time, people are waking up to the financial as well as environmental benefits of buying and wearing vintage, retro and recycled clothes. Fast fashion may at last be on its way out. We certainly hope so!

4 August 2008

We are now back from our holidays and thank customers for their patience in our absence. All outstanding orders will be dispatched today and the catalogue will be updated this week with some super new stock. It's going to be a busy few days catching up!

14 July 2008

Since we are off on our summer holidays on Friday, we are going to be updating the catalogue with some lovely new stock this week which we know you will love.

All orders received before 3pm on Friday 18th July will be dispatched before we close for business, while orders received after this will be sent out on Monday 4th August. 

Meanwhile, our Summer Special promotion kicks off today, so be sure to check it out!

11 July 2008

Glastonbury may be over, but the music loving hordes are now arriving in Perthshire for Scotland's biggest festival, T in the Park. As the black clouds gather above Balado, festival fashionistas will be deciding what to wear with their wellies! The better prepared festival goers have already snapped up some fab boho festival bargains at The Frockery which are sure to go down a storm whatever the weather.

Meanwhile, auto heritage enthusiasts are on the hunt for period costume for the Culzean Castle and Goodwood Revival events taking place in August and September respectively, so 40s vintage and 40s inspired pieces are proving very popular at the moment.

3 July 2008

The holiday season is well and truly upon us and we are looking forward to our own annual break. We would like to advise our customers in advance that The Frockery will be closed for two weeks from Monday 21 July. Orders may still be placed during this time but goods will not be dispatched until our return on Monday 4 August.

This week we have a very special dress which is about to be listed in the Designer Shop and has to be one of the most gorgeous gowns we have come across in a long time! In gold wild silk, it is from Droopy & Brown's of York and comes with a matching little jacket and stiff net underskirt. We think it would make a stunning wedding dress.

24 June 2008

We have been beavering away sorting new stock and getting to know some lovely new customers over the past week. A special thank you to Retro to Go who gave us a write up and sent a host of visitors our way!

Credit crunch clothing has been making the news as consumers start to feel the financial pinch with rising oil prices impacting on the cost of everyday necessities, from food to clothing. Now Gok Wan, who famously helped ladies look good naked, is fronting a new programme with the emphasis on affordable fashion, so we are hoping he may pay The Frockery a visit!

Meanwhile, Panorama's expose of Primark, which was broadcast last night, was a long overdue reminder that it has been far too easy for too long for companies to flaunt an 'ethical' policy, all the while failing to eradicate child labour and the sweatshop conditions of those who produce fast fashion for their unwitting customers half way round the world.  

We have also been doing our small bit for charity in our spare time this week supporting Schoolhouse in its preparations for hosting the Learning Without Limits international conference in September to celebrate Freedom in Education Day 2008. 

16 June 2008

The summer wedding season is upon us once again and the Frockery team are going to be wedding guests next month so we are already deliberating what to wear for the occasion.

We have had a few requests for wedding wear in the past week or two, and although we rarely have traditional wedding gowns in stock, we have dressed a few brides who have wanted something a little less conventional for their big day.

We will shortly be listing a truly gorgeous gold wild silk full length gown with matching bolero and stiff net petticoat, which we think would make any bride look and feel a million dollars. Our current stock also includes this dramatic black and red dress which may appeal to the Goth bride, while this simple ivory silk embroidered dress could fit the bill for a less formal ceremony.

For the discerning bridesmaid, or equally the bride herself, this beautiful baby pink chiffon dress and matching bag are looking for a new appreciative home. And the mother of the bride (or groom) is sure to find a suitable outfit in the catalogue, like this striking purple Jacques Vert two piece or this navy and cream two piece, both of which have just been reduced. We also have a wide selection of shoes, gloves and jewellery to browse through at your leisure.

5 June 2008

Where have the past 10 days gone, we wonder? We have been busy sorting through stock and welcoming new agency customers who have been sending in some lovely items to tempt us all. Look out for some great vintage and retro pieces, as well as some fab, right-on-trend Topshop gear which is due to make an early appearance.

Turning our thoughts to graduation balls and proms, we have a great selection of pretty prom dresses at highly affordable prices, with all the requisite accessories to complement your glam look. And not forgetting the men who make up a significant minority of our customers, there are  tuxedo shirts and bow ties on offer for formal occasions when the t-shirt and jeans look just will not do! We even have some tailcoats in the stock room which are patiently awaiting appreciative new owners.

Have fun browsing the catalogue and do come back soon. If there is anything you want but can't find, please just drop us an email and we'll see what we can do!

27 May 2008

We are just back from our long weekend and about to update the catalogue, so do please stay tuned in for some cool dresses, skirts and tops which will take you stylishly through the summer months without breaking the bank. 

23 May 2008

Customers are advised that we will be closed for the public holiday on Monday 26th May with all weekend orders going out on Tuesday 27th. We wish you all a happy holiday weekend!

19 May 2008

We have just updated the catalogue with a selection of mainly dresses, skirts and footwear. Hopefully there is something for everyone in there, whether you are looking for holiday wear, wedding wear or a glam look for the summer ball or prom.

Boho is most definitely back this season (although it has never really gone away for us!) We love the hippy ethnic inspired look that first came to prominence in the 60s and 70s and has been rediscovered and reinvented in the intervening years. We are especially liking this black and white print wrapover maxi skirt by Bellino, this boho tan leather bag, this pretty festival dress and this gorgeous white tiered maxi skirt.

12 May 2008

We have had a busy time since our last update, having sneaked off for a long weekend to enjoy a bit of shopping and attend a 70s style 50th birthday party in the lovely city of Carlisle. Pogo-ing by middle aged men (who should know better by now) was certainly a sight to behold!

Meanwhile, we have taken delivery of a consignment of new stock which is gradually making its way into the catalogue, with summer dresses proving a popular choice as the sun makes a welcome appearance. And as the festival season approaches, our selection of boho style dresses will appeal to those who enjoy more casual chic.

30 April 2008

It's May Day tomorrow and it's raining outside! Nevertheless, we are looking forward to our holiday weekend and customers are advised that we will be closed on Monday 5th May with all weekend orders going out on Tuesday 6th. 

In anticipation of warmer times to come, the blouse is most definitely back - the frillier the better! Our current favourites include this navy polka dot frilled collar blouse, this crimson frilled blouse and these New Romantic numbers in lemon, lilac and pastels. But if frills and flounces aren't your thing, you can instantly brighten up a formal business suit with a spash of colour or add some interest with a classic pussy bow style.

Meanwhile, Louis Féraud is the latest designer we have chosen to feature in our Frockery Focus section.

21 April 2008

Although spring is making a tentative breakthrough, it is still a bit chilly out, so jumpers and cardis look likely to be wardrobe staples for a few more weeks.

Fortunately, we have a good selection in stock with more to come in the next day or two in a variety of styles, colours and fabrics, so have a browse through our knitwear section and see what takes your fancy. For the men, we have a range of sweaters, slipovers and zip tops to choose from, including quality labels like Burberry, Pringle and Abercrombie & Fitch.

We have also just updated our Frockery Feedback section and are grateful to customers who have taken the time and trouble to let us know what they think of us!

And finally... we are pleased to advise our customers that Worldpay has now been fully tested and activated, so secure online payments may now be made either via PayPal or Worldpay.

12 April 2008

We have just completed a catalogue update and we hope you like the new additions as much as we do! Our favourites include this white embroidered shift dress, this one-off floral print tea dress and (if we were not such shrinking violets!) this green print flounced dress.

Sadly, however, we seem to have chosen the wrong week to integrate Worldpay into our site as their system has just undergone a major upgrade and their technical support is patchy (to put it mildly!) Please bear with us until we get the system fully tested and operational. Paypal is meanwhile running as normal and will continue as a payment option for all customers (with or without a Paypal account).

6 April 2008

We are in the process of integrating Worldpay into The Frockery site so that our customers have a choice of online payment method. This should soon be fully integrated and will not affect Paypal payments which will continue as normal in the meantime. Customers should be assured that all card transactions will continue to be processed securely by Paypal or Worldpay and that we neither process payments on our website nor have access to customers' card details at any time.

20 March 2008

Since the cold weather shows no sign of abating in Scotland, Kirstin has taken to sporting some fun knitwear like this Rupert the Bear jumper which we all loved as soon as it arrived in The Frockery stock room. She is determined not to part with this one!

Meanwhile, we have been very busy sorting new stock since our last update and have added a Designer Shop which currently features quality pieces from Chloe, Valentino and Roland Klein. We are sure you will love them, as well as our newly arrived stock which will be listed as soon as we find a space in the busy schedule, so do keep checking back!

9 March 2008

We have been busy cataloguing stock and have added some fabulous vintage and retro dresses, including this John Charles baby blue vintage frock and this unworn baby pink full length gown and matching bag which would be suitable for a wedding, prom or indeed any special occasion. And, for the Goths among us, how about this slinky black Bernshaw maxi dress?

We were in Glasgow last week for the School of Art Fashion Show 2008. True to form, the talented student designers did not disappoint and the 'avant garde' theme served to delight packed houses every night. The Frockery lent some accessories for the six catwalk shows and some of our own favourite model Kirstin's designs can be seen in this Evening Times video link. Just look out for the red socks!

27 February 2008

As our regular visitors will have noticed, we have just listed a selection of 80s style blouses and knitwear, some of which have already been snapped up! We absolutely adore this baby blue retro bouse and this poppy appliqued cream sweater, and for the office-to-wine-bar look, we are simply loving this understated retro black dress.

We have now added a Coming Soon section so that customers are aware of the stock we have waiting to be listed. We are especially delighted to have taken delivery of some exclusive 80s designer garments, some of which were bought straight off the catwalk, so prepare to be dazzled when they appear in the catalogue!

19 February 2008

Belt tightening is fashionable at the moment, so check out our half price special offer on selected belts until the end of February.

14 February 2008

10 February 2008

The 80s have arrived at The Frockery this week in the form of a selection of beautiful party and prom dresses in delectable colours and styles from designers such as Vera Mont and Frank Usher. We have also re-visited the 70s and listed two classic early Laura Ashley maxi dresses,  one in blue and one in pink, both in tiny sizes, which we think would make lovely bridesmaid's dresses for a spring wedding.

Meanwhile, we have just acquired a large selection of closing down stock from the Glasgow vintage boutique Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor, whose owner is moving abroad, so look out for the arrival of some interesting pieces of men's retro wear and authentic American cowboy boots as well as a great selection of ladies' vintage fashion.

2 February 2008

The Glasgow School of Art Fashion Show 2008

4th and 5th March @ The Vic, Glasgow School of Art

Tickets available from Tickets Scotland, £7.50/£5.50 (concession)

The GSA Fashion Show has been a spectacular annual event since the 1940s. It attracts a significant level of media attention and, according to The Herald, is "recognised across Europe as one of the most innovative showcases of new talent". The unique collections presented by 3rd year undergraduate textiles students (including, this year, The Frockery's very own Kirstin!) never fail to enthral and consistently serve to reaffirm Glasgow's status as the ultimate style capital. For more information, visit the GSA Fashion Show's MySpace.

28 January 2008

The party season seems to be continuing unabated as some of our most glamorous frocks have been flying off the rails throughout January. In fact the Frockery team have been so busy that we have accumulated a bit of a backlog of new stock awaiting listing in the catalogue. So please bear with us while we organise a mega update, hopefully later this week - we feel sure you won't be disappointed!

18 January 2008

We have just taken delivery of some super new stock which will shortly be making its way into our catalogue. One of our customers was having a wardrobe cull before moving house and has asked us to list a selection of her wonderful 80s dresses, all in pristine condition, so look out for some fab Frank Usher, Vera Mont and Radley creations.

Meanwhile, don't forget to check out our tartan and tweed frockery for that traditional Burns Supper next weekend. We have just listed another Argyll kilt jacket in Harris tweed and we have some maxi kilts like this one in red plaid and this one in green, as well as a tartan waistcoat for him and one for her. 

7 January 2008

It has been freezing here in north east Scotland since the turn of the year and we have all been wrapped up in winter woolies and big coats in an effort to keep the cold at bay.

With the winter chill in mind, we have recently added a selection of contemporary, vintage and retro knitwear items to  our catalogue, including a lovely winter white cardigan and this fluffy black roll neck jumper. Meanwhile, the coats and jackets department is also bursting with new stock, like this purple Eastex coat, this striking vintage green plaid coat and a 'huggy bear' 70s Astraka faux fur coat.  If a smart raincoat is more your thing, check out this newly listed classic black Dannimac trench coat. 

We haven't forgotten the party girls either, and with so many frocks having flown off the rails over the festive season, we have been busy listing new stock with lots more to come.  Our own favourites include this pretty Gina Bacconi dress, this classic retro black velvet number and this flirty little midnight blue velvet party frock.

Finally, for that special formal occasion, take a look at this gorgeous Jacques Vert mother of the bride outfit in vibrant purple and this Michel Ambers dress with matching stole, both in immaculate condition.

31 December 2007

We would like to wish all our customers and visitors a very happy New Year. We will be closed for business on 1/2 January and will resume dispatching orders on Thursday 3rd. Slainte Mhath!

26 December 2007

Kirstin from The Frockery is 21 today and we want to wish her the best birthday ever. She has been a great inspiration to the more 'vintage' members of our team with her youthful zeal, zany ideas and sense of fun and fashion. We all love you, Kirstin, and thanks for being part of such a great outfit!

24 December 2007

We would like to wish all our customers and visitors a very happy Christmas. We will be closed for business on 25/26 December and will resume dispatching orders on Thursday 27th.

21 December 2007

The Frockery would like to wish Maggie from Halifax a wonderful 40th birthday party! We know she will be the belle of the ball in her 60s Bonwitt Teller outfit and send our best wishes for a fabulous celebration.

12 December 2007

We are delighted to announce the winners and runners up for our first Frockery Fifty Quid Fashion Challenge.

Festive Party Outfit
Winner: Tina Earle - Southport, Merseyside
Runner up: Cathy Hothersall - Comberton, Cambs

Interview Outfit
Winner: Cathy MacLennan - Manchester
Runner up: Shelagh Milne - Wirral, Merseyside

Congratulations to you all!

4 December 2007

Thanks to all who took The Frockery Fifty Quid Challenge, which has now closed. Our judges are now considering all the entries and winners and runners up will be announced on or after 9 December.

We have been busy adding new items to The Frockery catalogue, including a classic beige Burberry's trench coat and this smart grey Dannimac raincoat. And for those who simply want to update last season's coat with the latest look, check out our belts department where you will find a great selection, including this canvas and khaki suede waist cincher and this plain beige suede belt - or how about this bright apricot number?

We also have party frockery aplenty for ladies of all shapes and sizes, ranging from this tiny size 8 black lace over lilac dress to this gorgeous beaded 20s style knock out frock in a plus size 22.

And we haven't forgotten the menfolk, who might just fancy a retro Norwegian wool sweater or a bright red Burberry jumper to keep them warm this winter, while the highland laddies might want to check out this newly listed traditional black Argyll kilt jacket.

27 November 2007

While you are browsing, you may want to take a look at our new Frockery Focus section in which we highlight designer Joseph Ribkoff's half century career in the fashion industry. We aim to add information about other popular designers whose labels we stock at The Frockery on a regular basis.

We have also added a 'browse by size' facility which should hopefully improve our customers' Frockery shopping experience. Please bear with us while we refine its features and complete the category listings.

Meanwhile, look out for some top quality garments from Jacques Vert, Michel Ambers and other well known labels, all seeking appreciative new owners, which are due to hit the Frockery catalogue before Christmas.

19 November 2007

It has been raining cats and dogs in north east Scotland, and raincoats and boots are definitely de rigueur. Fortunately, we have a good selection of stylish coats to help banish the bad weather blues, including this ladies' long beige Dannimac raincoat and this shorter length version, as well as this men's classic black vintage trenchcoat. And to help keep your feet dry, why not invest in a pair of classy brown leather Italian riding boots or these soft black leather knee length cowboy style boots?

17 November 2007

Scotland's tartan army are out in force today supporting the national football team as they take on Italy, the world champions, so there are plenty of kilts on the streets and in the pubs of Glasgow and across the land. And with St Andrew's Day coming up on 30 November, it's time to get kitted out in some fetching tartan frockery. How about cutting a dash in this black and tartan ball gown, this green tartan wool waistcoat or this vintage A-line tartan maxi skirt? If traditional tweeds are more to your taste, check out this cool vintage Harris tweed jacket, this Country Life tweed hat, or, for a sophisticated look, this vintage Jaeger tweed skirt suit. Good luck to the Scotland team today (you'll need it, boys!) and slainte mhath!

12 November 2007

Do keep these competition entries coming, please! Our judges are looking forward to seeing what Frockery fashionistas consider the hottest looks for that festive party or job interview.

We have been busier than ever at Frockery HQ. Our retroesque stocking filler suggestions are proving popular, so we have been listing some more goodies, such as this kitsch 70s kitchen ware, some pretty vintage and retro scarves like this one and even a woolly reindeer jumper! 

By request, we have now have introduced a Wanted List and a separate Sold Gallery so that customers can see what we have previously stocked and can ask to be informed of any similar items coming in. None of the sold items will be removed from the site until the current competition closes on 30 November as these may be included in entries. 

2 November 2007

The Christmas season is fast approaching, when our thoughts inevitably begin to turn towards buying festive frockery for ourselves and presents for family and friends. Here at The Frockery we have lots of party outfits to choose from. as well as a selection of small stocking fillers and secret Santa ideas that won't break the bank. How about a retro season's greetings tea towel, a flower power pinny, a cute enamelled brooch, or maybe a luxury red mohair scarf?

28 October 2007

By popular request from some of our more curvaceous customers, we are hoping to source a wider selection of garments in ladies' sizes 16+. Vintage and retro clothes do tend to come in tiny sizes (as we were all a lot smaller back then!) but we are making a big effort to find more quality pieces that will fit the fuller figure, whether vintage, retro or simply pre-loved and seeking a new appreciative owner. Meanwhile, also by popular request, we are planning to include a 'search by size' function to make Frockery shopping easier for all our customers.

22 October 2007

Thanks to New Consumer Magazine and Hippy Shopper for featuring our newly launched Fashion Challenge. Our judges are looking forward to receiving lots of entries from eco-fashionistas!

And more good news! Royal Mail deliveries are now getting back to normal, and customers should not expect any undue delays in their orders reaching them.

15 October 2007

It looks likely that the Royal Mail industrial action is now close to being resolved, so we would like to advise customers that, as from today, we will resume our use of Royal Mail services to dispatch orders which cannot be sent by DX couriers (i.e. orders weighing over 1kg and those to postcodes not covered by DX business to customer services).

14 October 2007

Look out for details of our first Frockery Fifty Quid Fashion Challenge! We are about to launch a free to enter competition in which we will ask website users to create a suitable outfit from The Frockery for a given occasion on a budget of £50. The winner of each category will receive goods of their choice from The Frockery website to the value of £50 and each runner up will receive goods to the value of £25. 

9 October 2007

The postal strike is continuing to cause uncertainty, disruption and delay in the delivery of orders for many small businesses, including The Frockery. We are therefore now using courier services for all our outgoing parcels so that customers can be assured of receiving their goods within a reasonable timescale. Our postage prices remain unchanged in the meantime and we thank customers for their forbearance.

4 October 2007

Owing to industrial action by the Royal Mail, there may be some delay in the delivery of orders. For smaller items, such as dresses and tops, we have made arrangements to use an alternative carrier, and we plan to deliver local orders within Tayside directly. However, we envisage disruption to other deliveries and apologise to customers for this inconvenience. We are currently investigating alternative delivery options as a matter of urgency.

23 September 2007

The Frockery is delighted to see leather make a big come back this season and we have plenty in our catalogue for you to choose from. How about a retro red leather skirt or some brown leather trousers for the ladies, or perhaps a  'Life on Mars' black leather jacket for the boys?

There is now a distinct autumn chill in the air and we have been listing lots of warm coats in a variety of colours, styles and vintages. As ever, the military look is a key theme for the autumn/winter season, and the  Windsmoor crimson wool coat and this cute black Cossack look coat are our particular favourites. Keep an eye out for more to come!

9 September 2007

The annual Goodwood Revival weekend, whose enthusiasts are well represented among Frockery customers, has undoubtedly become a vintage motoring legend, attracting interest and visitors from across the globe.  We were therefore delighted to hear of the imminent launch a new International Heritage Motoring event - Culzean Autoclassica - which is to be held at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire from 21-23 September. Participants and visitors are being encouraged to dress in period costume from the 40s, 50s,60s or 70s to reflect their own particular transport era, and it promises to be both a fun and educational experience for all those with an interest in auto heritage and past times. It's also going to be another great opportunity to show off some vintage and retro finery from The Frockery!

31 August 2007

When she saw that insect print dress, Kirstin finally agreed to 'live' model some of the Frockery stock, and doesn't she look terrific! As the summer draws to a close (what summer?) she is preparing to return to The Glasgow School of Art for the third year of her design textiles degree, and it looks like print will be her chosen specialism. She will be sorely missed at Frockery HQ, but we have plans to showcase some of our stock in Glasgow this autumn and also hope to arrange a student run Frockery fashion photo shoot - so watch this space!

6 August 2007

What a wet and dreary summer it has been so far! However, we have managed to brighten ourselves up at The Frockery by adding some vibrant pieces from the 80s to our ever growing catalogue. So if you are in need of a bit of colourful cheer, check out the royal blue silk skirt that has just been listed, along with some strikingly bright citrus blouses.

Meanwhile, dedicated Goodwood enthusiasts will find plenty on our pages to see them through the coming Revival weekend, from vintage dresses for the ladies to Harris tweeds and Fair Isle sweaters for the gents.

10 July 2007

The Frockery is again open for business after a sustaining summer break - thank you to all our customers for their patience during our absence. During something of a busman's holiday, Alison added to her personal vintage frockery in the form of a black Belville Sassoon evening gown, along with a stunning cream Valentino suit. Kirstin has meanwhile adopted a demure early Princess Diana look and is currently sporting a selection of 80s dresses and blouses with big round collars and ribbon neck ties, none of which she is old enough to remember from the first time round! 

We hope you will keep dropping by to see what's new and retro, but if there is anything specific you want and can't find on the site, do please email us your requirements and we will do our best to track it down for you..

19 June 2007

We would ask our customers to note that The Frockery will be closed for two weeks' annual holiday as from close of business on Friday 22 June. Orders may still be placed, but no items will be dispatched until we re-open on Monday 9 July.

8 June 2007

Summer is here (allegedly) and so the pretty frocks are making a tentative appearance, along with some welcome rays of sunshine - even here in Scotland! The Frockery catalogue is bursting with new additions, including a selection of gorgeous silks in a myriad of colours and dresses ranging from casual holiday numbers to summer ball gowns. You will also find a nice range of raincoats, from basic macs to Burberrys, for when the weather changes!

12 May 2007

It's been a busy month since our last update, but first of all, an apology to any customers who may have been thwarted in their efforts to reach us via the website contact page. It seemingly succumbed to a gremlin in the system and was only brought to our attention last week by one of our lovely customers from Devon (she knows who she is!) The wonderful Jimmy has now fixed it, so we are back to our normal, responsive selves, and you can also now find us on the MySpace network. Meanwhile, we have lots more stock to add in the next couple of weeks, so keep dropping by to see what's new.

11 April 2007

We are currently in 1970s mood as we listen to iconic rockers Eddie & The Hot Rods blast out Do Anything You Wanna Do while we sort through some super 70s items for listing. We are just loving these original retro babies! In fact, if most of them weren't on the small side for the Frockery team, we would not be sharing them but wearing them ourselves! We reckon that real vintage fashion, like real vintage rock'n'roll, is much more cool and far out than the modern variety.

8 March 200