Why not also check out the latest Frockery blog?

5 February 2010

We are already into the shortest month of the year and Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Love may be in the air, but if these post festive bills are threatening to dampen your romantic spirit, you need look no further than The Frockery for some inexpensive but tasteful tokens of affection for your loved one. Or why not just treat yourself?

We are especially loving this fun heart print party frock from Top Shop, this Lolita Lempicka lace trimmed silk slip and this raspberry silk camisole from Coast, all of which will win hearts without breaking the bank.  

There there is still plenty of time to order before Valentine's Day as we usually dispatch the same or next day by first class recorded delivery.

24 January 2010

4 January 2010

Happy New Year to all! We have now re-opened for business after the festive break and all orders placed since 31st December will be dispatched today. It's good to be back at the frock face, although we could do with some huskies to help out, given that our vehicle is still under several inches of snow. 

We will be updating the catalogue this week with some scrumptious new stock. For those who have already spent too much over the holidays, check out our Clearance section, or look out for some highly affordable accessories that will be coming soon and won't cause credit card trauma.

The faux fur has been literally flying here and we have had numerous enquiries from customers desperately seeking jackets and coats. We always do our best to source garments, but it can sometimes be difficult to meet demand for such sought after items.

 24 December 2009

We would like to wish our customers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank you all for your support throughout 2009.

And a special thanks to James from Marketing Donut for the Frockery mention in their end of year blog.

14 December 2009

We would like to advise our customers that 'last orders' for Christmas delivery within the UK should be placed by midday on Monday 21st December, which is the last posting date for first class mail. Rest assured, we will still be sending out orders until Christmas Eve and will be back at the frock face on Monday 28th December. In Scotland, we always need an extra day to recover from Hogmanay, so we will be resuming normal service on Tuesday 5th January.

For these end of year parties we have been busy adding some lovely cocktail dresses and glitzy sequinned tops. We also have a stunningly beautiful size 8 chocolate brown silk slip with luxury lace trim and embellishment from French designer Lolita Lempicka, which is in unworn condition and going for a bargain price - the perfect gift for a discerning lady.

7 December 2009

Today is forecast to be the busiest day of the year for online retailers and we can confirm that sales are indeed brisk at The Frockery. We are also hoping to have time to fit in some online Christmas shopping of our own this week as it's just so much more convenient and less stressful than battling through the crowds on the high street.

However, when it comes to internet shopping, customers should always heed advice to click carefully so that they can feel confident that they are dealing with a bona fide business, that they can expect to receive the goods they have ordered within a few days, and that their card details remain secure when making payment. 

We thought we would take the opportunity to remind our own customers and visitors that, for added security, we use third party payment processors. This means that all our online transactions are processed via the secure PayPal or RBSWorldpay websites, where you will see the https prefix and padlock on the payment pages. Once an order has been received, we aim to dispatch goods the same or next day and will always make refunds  on items that are unsuitable for any reason.

On a lighter note, we are busy adding lots of lovely stock to the catalogue this week, so do keep dropping by to see what's new at The Frockery!

26 November 2009

First of all, a special mention for our growing contingent of male customers. We started stocking men's "frockery" by popular demand and have not been disappointed with the result as our male buyers have been snapping up bargains for themselves as well as the ladies in their lives. Thank you, lads, we love you! 

Also, a word about sizing - a perennial problem in the vintage and retro world where garements rarely, if ever, resemble contemporary sizes. Customers are advised to refer to our sizing guide for information on how we  measure things up at The Frockery, but should be assured of our no quibble returns policy for any garment that is unsuitable for any reason.

As the festive season approaches, glamour and glitz are proving popular. We absolutely love these fabulous frocks  which have just been listed and will be adding several more in the next week or two. 

And finally, our model Kirstin (pictured above) was featured in the Herald this week while out enjoying Glasgow's cafe culture and naturally sporting some of our fab frockery!

11 November  2009

The suspension of industrial action by the postal workers' union has brought us much needed relief from the inconvenience of organising alternative delivery services for some of our orders.  It's now back to business as usual - and with a vengeance! With the festive season rapidly approaching, shoppers are snapping up Frockery bargains in anticipation of the partying to come.

We have had a run on faux fur jackets and coats, most of which have been sold as soon as they have been listed in the catalogue - and in some cases before they even make the catalogue! We blame Twitter! However, we are trying to keep up with demand and are about to add another two, as well as some more gorgeous cashmere knitwear (one yummy tangerine cardi with tags still attached would make a great gift at a fraction of the original price). We also have a selection of glitzy party wear waiting in the wings. 

Kirstin has been doing a spot of modelling of some of her own favourites, including a Burberry's nova check shirt, a black bolero jacket with faux pearl embellishment and a fab Kilspindie cardigan. We think you'll agree she wears them well.

28 October 2009

We have been operating with a skeleton staff for the past week - not, as some have suggested, in anticipation of Hallowe'en, but due to illness sweeping through our ranks. We are hopefully all on the mend now and only have the postal disruption to contend with, but there will hopefully soon be a breakthrough there too so that deliveries can get back to normal

Some fab footwear and bags will soon be making an appearance on the site. Having tweeted about the arrival a cute little Radley handbag just the other day, it has already found a new home, but there are plenty more bargains to be bagged, including these two.

17 October 2009

The industrial action scheduled by the Communication Workers Union (CWU) for 22 and 23 October will undoubtedly cause some disruption to the delivery of our orders, although contingency plans have been put in place by Royal Mail management to minimise disruption and maintain services. We plan to continue to dispatch orders by first class mail on non strike days, but will use special delivery or courier services on strike days at no extra charge to our customers. We very much regret any inconvenience caused by circumstances which are beyond our control.

12 October

We have been so busy getting the orders out that there has been little time for updates, but we would like to welcome to all our lovely new customers and thank all our loyal returners for Frockery shopping! The website has seen a big increase in traffic over the past few months, as well as a corresponding increase in requests to source items as diverse as kilt jackets, military uniforms and clutch bags in a specific shade of green!

Having an online store means that we rarely get to meet our  customers in the flesh, so it was a lovely surprise yesterday for Alison to find herself seated next to a young lady who knew of The Frockery because her mother is already a customer. Both were celebrating 55 years of the Esk Academy of Dancing in Montrose, whose principal, Miss Beryl Couper, looks every inch as glamorous today as she did back in the 60s when Alison's mum made many of the costumes and Alison still looked cute in a tutu! Congratulations to a lovely lady who has inspired so many young dancers and who has contributed so much to local charities over the years. 

Meanwhile, the Royal Mail industrial action has so far not caused too much inconvenience, with only the odd delivery delay being reported, but one item arrived just two hours before it was due to be worn to a wedding, which was  cutting it rather too fine. Since the announcement that the industrial action is to be stepped up, we, like other online retailers, are considering all the options so that we can maintain service. We will of course keep customers 'posted'.

24 September 2009

We have been quiet on the frock talk front due to being so very busy over the past few weeks. While the recession is undoubtedly causing many people to rethink their spending habits, The Frockery remains an ever popular choice for eco friendly fashionistas on a budget who demand value for money without compromising on style.

We just love the uniqueness of vintage pieces but we also enjoy rehoming quality contemporary items, many of which have never been worn by their original owners. With most of our dresses under £20 and a full catalogue of vintage, retro and recycled fashion to choose from, you can't go wrong!

At the moment we are especially loving this new romantic ruffle dress, this fab vintage suede fronted bag, this big jumper and this green plaid vintage coat.

7 September 2009

28 August 2009

It's the bank holiday weekend and we have just done a quick catalogue update of mainly bags, belts and scarves while we prepare some recently arrived stock for listing next week.

We will shortly be bringing you the funky Fornarina shoes pictured below, a pair of white leather Sketchers lace front boots, a selection of delightful dresses and some warm woollen knitwear, including a cute sheep themed Tulchan jumper.

19 August 2009

We have been sneaking some time off this past week to take in the Edinburgh Fringe which transforms the Scottish capital every August into a cosmopolitan and vibrant mix of artists, entertainers, tourists and local folk.

Starring in one of our favourite Fringe shows was our webmaster Tom,  a man of many talents who gave three energetic performances over the weekend with his Irish dance troupe Absolutely Legless. We were exhausted just watching them and you can see some of Tom's fancy footwork here.

Apart from enjoying the entertainment, people watching at festival time can be fun. The wacky frockery is certainly a joy to behold in the carnival atmospehere of the Royal Mile where there are always some amazing creations on display. And the Grassmarket in the Old Town is home to some wonderful vintage shops which we can highly recommend.

9 August 2009

We have been in handbag heaven here sorting through some recently arrived stock. From classic black to lipstick red, vintage to boho, we have lots of bargain baggery on offer so keep an eye on the catalogue for this week's update.

Besides bags, we have lots more frocks in stock.  Here are a few of our own favourites which are about to be listed.

25 July 2009

What was that we were saying about a heatwave when we last wrote? Monsoon (and not the high street shop) was the order of most days during our recent visit to London, and emptying rainwater from one's shoes gets irksome after a while - as well as necessitating new foot frockery!

The New Designers exhibition in Islington, which showcased some exceptional talent from art schools acoss the UK, was the main reason for our visit as our own recently graduated Kirstin was showing her designs. We were especially delighted to see the Glasgow School of Art's Paul Rodin scoop the new designer of the year award for his truly inspirational printed textiles. 

Having now returned to the frock face, we will be bringing you some fab new and not-so-new fashion to take you effortlessly through heatwaves, monsoons and every other weather. Jumpers and coats have been selling steadily alongside our summery frockery as this unpredictable climate of ours demands we be prepared for all seasons regardless of what the calendar tells us.

Finally, we should mention that a local holiday on Monday 27th July means that all weekend orders will be dispatched on Tuesday 28th. 

2 July 2009

The heatwave has hit Scotland with a vengeance, but we're not complaining (yet!) We are off to London next week to check out New Designers (where Kirstin is showing some of her prints) and to do some shopping, sightseeing and catching up with friends, so we will do a catalogue update with some fab sundresses before we depart. Enjoy the sunshine!

21 June 2009

Many congratulations to our part time model and assistant Kirstin on her graduation from Glasgow School of Art with a BA(Hons) in Design Textiles and on a fabulous degree show which has already gained her a commission. Well done!

Meanwhile, back at the frock face, we have just completed another catalogue update and there is lots more to come, including these retro pieces.

10 June 2009

We are back from a whistlestop tour of the south west of England and even managed a short visit to Wales where it rained non stop! Having enjoyed glorious weather the previous week, we  packed some cool summer dresses in anticipation of enjoying continuing sunshine, but alas, we spent most of our time wrapped up in jumpers and jeans with a brolly premanently to hand.  

Now that we are back, we have just completed another catalogue update, so please feel free to take a browse through our latest selection of frocks, tops, skirts and jumpsuits to see if anything takes your fancy!

26 May 2009

Apologies for the absence of updates as we have been so busy thanks to all our lovely customers, two more of whom have walked down the aisle resplendent in frockery from The Frockery!

The bank holiday weekend was an opportunity for us to take a bit of a breather from the routine, and the sun even shone sympathetically for  much of it. There was no prospect of relaxation for Kirstin, however, who has been madly busy in the studio preparing for her degree show at the Glasgow School of Art. We are all so looking forward to seeing the fruits of her loom labours next month.

We will be updating the catalogue with some nifty numbers this week so here's a sneak preview.

11 May 2009

At last the sun is breaking through in this corner of north east Scotland. Let's hope it lasts so that we can give the woolly jumpers a bit of a rest.

It's been a busy couple of weeks, with many of our recently added Clearance items having been quickly snapped up. We have also managed some successful sourcing of items for customers with specific requirements and have received some great feedback. We were especially delighted to hear that another bride-to-be will be wearing some of our frockery at her wedding next week.

The return of Ashes to Ashes seems to have fuelled a growing demand for 80s fashion, which - like Marmite - you either love or hate. As we have previously mentioned, what we all agree on here is that the gorgeous Philip Glenister (Gene Hunt) is unmissable!

1 May 2009

Happy May Day to all and a quick reminder that we will be closed on Monday, so all weekend oreder will go out on Tuesday 5th May.

Having just taken delivery of a large consignment of dresses, skirts, blouses, coats, jackets and even a couple of jumpsuits, mainly from the 70s and 80s, we will be working overtime to sort them for the catalogue.

In the meantime, here is a preview of some items which will be appearing very soon in the catalogue, including a vibrant blue 80s Versace dress, an easy wear red and white polka dot dress and a 70s print dress which comes with matching bolero.

26 April 2009

Burberry certainly hasn't lost its appeal, given the number of enquiries we receive from lovers of this classic label. So it was no surprise that the trench coat we catalogued last week was gone within hours and we had several emails asking when we might have another in stock. The truth is we never quite know, which means it's a good idea to keep dropping by to see what's new on the site - or you can always ask us to contact you if a particular item comes in.

The long anticipated new series of Ashes to Ashes started last week, which pleased us no end as we absolutely love Philip Glenister and his  various sidekicks. The 80s music and fashion flashbacks are great reminders of the days when life seemed a lot simpler, although we confess we are happy that the sexism which permeates this and other retro series has now largely been consigned to history.

On the fashion front, Gok's Fashion Fix influence has been evident on high streets everywhere, with accessories such as belts being used to jazz up otherwise dull outfits without busting the budget. We are particularly liking the self-tie leather cummerbund style belts, such as this red one and this black one from Mango. It seems that belt tightening is now more fashionable than ever!

15 April 2009

9 April 2009

2 February 2009

February has certainly made its chilly presence felt and we all woke up to a blanket of snow this morning, like everyone else in the UK it seems. For London buses to stop running, it must be serious!

We are sorting stock today, having had a very busy week trying to keep up with a surge in orders which suggests that more and more people are embracing the benefits of preloved fashion for green and other practical reasons. Money is tight for everyone these days and fast fashion is losing its appeal as more discerning consumers want to create an individual look with an emphasis on quality and style.

Fashionistas need look no further then The Frockery for a doubly eco-friendly experience which makes sound economic as well as ecological sense. Be it vintage, retro or more contemporary preloved  fashion, quality and affordability are our bywords and we are delighted to have been included in Penny Lane's list of recommended British vintage shops.

25 January 2009

Happy Burns Night to everyone! Here in Scotland, we are sporting traditional tartan frockery today as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Bard's birth and kick off our Year of Homecoming. Slainte mhath!

22 January 2009

It has been snowing here this week, which has made a pleasant change from the drizzle which has dominated since the turn of the year. It didn't last, sadly, and the grey skies soon returned.

So it's time for a cheerful addition to the wardrobe and we have a few colourful suggestions in our catalogue which should help raise the post Christmas spirits, like this funky 70s orange top and this fluffy heather cardi. For a touch of sheer luxury without the luxury price tag, why not treat yourself to a cashmere sweater in ivory, grey or perhaps lilac?

We will be adding more items to our Clearance selection this week to make room for new stock, so keep dropping by and beat the credit cruch in style!

12 January 2009

We have had an incredibly busy start to the new year and have been fully occupied adding new stock to the catalogue to keep up with demand!

Our latest favourites are this beautiful lilac cashmere sweater which has never been worn and this fab 80s sweater dress which is just the ticket for these cold days teamed with warm wool tights and boots.

We also have a selection of lovely dresses about to put in an appearance, among them this stunning silk tiered dress from Phase Eight and this green silk print frock which still has its shop tags attached.

Keep an eye on the website this week for new additions in all departments. We promise you won't be disappointed!

5 January 2009

Happy New Year from the Frockery team! We are back today and raring to go with lots of recent arrivals to add to the catalogue over the next few days.

The Frockery has been getting busier and busier, so we are loooking at redesigning the website to include some new features which will hopefully improve our customers' browsing and shopping experience.  

The Frockery has always favoured reuse and recycling and we are planning to add restyling to our list this year as we frequently come across beautiful garments which are not wearable as they are but have great potential!

In 2009, we aim to rise to the challenge of sourcing and rehoming the very best in vintage, retro and preloved frockery at fair and affordable prices, so do keep us bookmarked and let us know if you are looking for a particular item.

30 December 2008

As this year draws to a close, we would like to wish all our customers and visitors a happy and healthy New Year. We will be closed for business on 1st and 2nd January and will resume dispatching orders on Monday 5th January 2009.

23 December 2008

17 December 2008

8 December 2008

We would like to advise customers that, in order to meet Royal Mail's deadline for Christmas delivery, UK orders to be sent by first class post must be received by 12 noon on Friday 19th December. We can send UK orders received by 12 noon on Monday 22nd December by special next day delivery at an additional charge - please contact us for details.

As Christmas is now fast approaching, we are adding lots of new stock to the catalogue to tempt partygoers and gift hunters alike. The much maligned traditional Christmas jumper has featured high on our customers' shopping lists with some travelling as far as the USA, and we were sorry to wave goodbye to a particularly gorgeous white leather jacket which has now found an appreciative new home with an Ashes to Ashes fan.

Finally for now, we will shortly be announcing the winners of the latest Frockery Fashion Challenge, so watch this space!

28 November 2008

Only two days to go until the closing date for the Frockery Fashion Challenge, so get these entries in this weekend! Just click on the link above for full details.

We have been so busy recently that it has been difficult to find time to update the catalogue, so we will be working overtime at the weekend in order to get some super new stock listed.

To tempt you all in advance, we have a pair of black leather over the knee boots, a cosy red cashmere sweater, an 'Ashes to Ashes' white leather jacket, a fab 70s black halter neck dress and some funky 70s table linen,which we reckon would make a cool retro Christmas gift.

The men's department has been seeing some serious action of late and we promise to try and source more top quality apparel for our male trendsetters. Latest arrivals include this retro brown tweed jacket, a grey Kilspindie cardigan and this retro green wool cardigan with tweed front.

We'd also like to extend a warm welcome to our new customers, some of whom just happened upon The Frockery by accident and decided they liked it here! We hope you will keep us bookmarked for future browsing.

21 November 2008

We would ask customers to note that the Frockery website will be unavailable for 2-3 hours from 2pm tomorrow (Saturday 22nd November). Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible and we thank you in advance for your patience.

16 November

We have just updated the catalogue with a selection of new stock and plan to add lots more over the next few days, so please keep us bookmarked. Having taken delivery of some fabulous new pieces this week, we will be working hard to get them all on to the site.

With the festive season just round the corner, we have a great selection of party dresses. And don't forget the tartan frockery for St Andrew's Day on 30th November (which, incidentally, is also the closing date for the Frockey Fifty Quid Fashion Challenge, so get these entries in!)

7 November 2008

Phew, it's been another busy week here!

Almost as soon as the clocks went back, the weather seemed to take a turn for the worse and sales of warm woollens and coats increased noticeably.

Party wear is still flying off the rails too, and some dresses have spent less than an hour on the website before heading off to their new homes. This one was a particular favourite of ours - a small but perfectly formed Wallis Exclusive number - and we know its new owner will look a million dollars in it.

Last week also saw us in attendance at a Power Lunch Club networking event in Edinburgh where a number of small businesses came together to raise funds for the Thistle Foundation, a charity which supports disabled people.

For those who haven't yet entered the Frockery Fashion Challenge, there is still plenty of time as the closing date isn't until 30th November, so keep these entries coming!

31 October 2008

It's Halloween and we have been selling lots of black velvet and Goth fashion this week for those who plan to dress up and celebrate in style! We have also been updating the catalogue with a fine selection of party frockery, with plenty more to come, including some fab 80s shoes.

It has, however, been a frustrating week technology wise, and some of our incoming email has been vanishing into the ether. The problem should now be resolved, but if you have emailed us in the past week and not received a reply, please accept our apologies and re-send your message.

22 October 2008

We want to say a special thank you to our customers who have been saying nice things about The Frockery this past week! 

One of them kindly recommended us to the What Can I Wear? website, which we are in turn pleased to recommend to our own customers as a great new fashion resource. Its creator Lilian describes her mission as being "to help women feel better about the way they look and to give them tips and advice to show them how they can make the most of what they have". We are with her 100% there!

Another of our customers, who bought a classic Laura Ashely 1980s velvet dress, wrote to say she had been thrilled to find it on our site. Having sadly lost that same much loved dress in a house fire some years ago, she is planning to wear the 'new' one on Christmas Day this year. We do so love a happy ending!