Fashion
Monday, October 24th, 2011
This post is one we have been thinking about for a while but have only just got round to composing and (if you’re reading this) publishing. It’s about the relative value of vintage from the perspective of a frockophile who turned a passion for collecting and wearing ‘old clothes’ into a business. Since the aforesaid collecting habit had taken over most of the house, it was either that or divorce, and it’s therefore gratifying to report at this juncture that the frockers are still happily hitched!
A couple of red wine fuelled ‘confessionals’ with fellow business owners at a recent social gathering caused us to reflect on our own steep learning curve since starting out. Back in 2007, we not only had lofty ambitions to be a more affordable alternative to existing vintage stores which we felt were a tad overpriced, but we were also keen to offer quality preloved contemporary clothing because our own wardrobe was not exclusively vintage and our focus was on sustainability as well as style. We saw our recycling model as a timely antidote to the rash of fast fashion that seemed to be sweeping the nation and which greatly offended our green sensibilities. So far so good.
Still mulling over the frockers’ progress, which has not been without bumps in the road, we happened upon this blog post in which the author considers the value of vintage fashion and, specifically, its pricing in the marketplace. The post was interesting from a personal point of view, not just because it linked to one of our frocks, but also because it mentioned Portobello Road market, one of our very favourite places (although it’s not what it used to be, thanks to the encroachment of developers, and is indeed now fighting for its very survival).
We visit London as often as possible (more regularly now that our daughter lives there – that’s her on our website top banner!) and it invariably turns into a busman’s holiday as we trek around vintage markets and shops to see what’s on offer. Some of the prices can certainly be eye-watering, but we imagine the rents, pitches and other overheads must be equally eye-watering for the traders. Not to mention the cost of living generally.
Living in Notting Hill in the 80s, when vintage was still very much a minority sport and Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts hadn’t yet sent local property prices into the stratosphere, the future chief frocker’s passion for all things retro was confirmed on Portobello Road and further nurtured at nearby Kensington Market. Back in ’81, while her work colleagues headed to Harrods to spend suitably big bucks on posh frocks for an event where they were to be presented to the Queen (as patron of their employing organisation), Alison bought a vintage black velvet gown for a tenner at Kensington Market, having fallen in love with it at first sight. She still owns it, and despite it now being several sizes too small, will never part with it. That was to be the story of her life, which eventually led to frocking for a living and loving it!
But back to the salient point of that blog post, where the author ponders the price of vintage clothing after a shocking encounter with an especially expensive frock down the market. As a vintage aficionada and aspiring trader with frugal frocking tendencies, she speculates on the extent to which greed might play a part in pricing. She also wonders, quite reasonably, whether it might be wiser from a self preservation point of view to price items in line with those of other sellers rather than undercut them and risk suffering a damaging blow in the popularity stakes.
That conundrum took us right back to our own early business planning days and we’re the first to admit that when we started out our pricing was a bit haphazard. In our quest to keep prices low, our mark-up was based simply on what we had originally paid for our stock (sometimes years ago) or, in the case of consignment customers, a mutually agreed selling price. Hindsight is a great thing and, if we are being completely honest, we failed to properly analyse all the other costs associated with running our business as we were first and foremost in it for the love rather than the money. Although our overheads were low, and still are, they all need to be factored in to maintain a degree of solvency and keep us in wine!
Our pricing is now a rather more sophisticated process based on a combination of factors, including the condition, era, size, style, label and current market desirability of our stock, rather than just a straight mark-up on what we originally paid for it. We also factor in the other overheads like website running costs, rent and storage, sourcing costs, postage and packaging, marketing, administration and compliance with all the legal aspects of running an ecommerce business such as the distance selling regulations.
Selling one of your own old frocks on ebay is a fairly simple exercise, but moving up a gear to buy and resell multiple frocks means you are no longer a private seller and automatically acquire legal liabilities, all of which need to be costed and met from your profits. Contrary to the head-in-the-sand belief of some sellers on ebay and elsewhere, that includes accepting returns of online purchases whether you like it or not!
By way of exemplifying relative value, we sold a vintage 70s John Charles cocktail dress earlier this year for £28. It was a real head turner, in very good but not mint condition, and it lasted less than 24 hours on our website before winging its way off to a new home. Imagine our surprise when, shortly afterwards, we coincidentally came across the same dress in a different colour on sale for a staggering £249 while randomly browsing another vintage site (as you do in this business!) We were frankly astonished because, gorgeous as the dress was, it was not (in our opinion) worth such a massive price tag by any stretch of the imagination. We know we’re Scottish, but seriously…
While there are undoubtedly big price discrepancies in the vintage fashion business, at the same time there are so many variables involved that ‘fair’ and consistent pricing is essentially a difficult balancing act. Bricks and mortar shops, market pitches and online stores all have different fixed overheads to factor into the equation just to break even, and then there are other important elements to cost, like that bottomless money pit also known as a marketing budget so that prospective customers can actually find your wares.
These things are all expensive, as increasingly grumpy ebay sellers will testify, given that their ever-rising fees are inextricably linked to the significant overheads incurred by the giant platform as it seeks to maintain its place as market leader. While greed is undoubtedly a prime motivating factor for some, from corporate giants like ebay and Google right down to the smallest bedroom-based entrepreneurs, it is just one element of a highly complicated mix.
In order to survive, as well as eat, all business owners need to turn a profit (hardly rocket science!) but we frockers are committed to keeping affordability and sustainability at the heart of ours. In fact, such is the emotional investment in our micro business, we’d definitely be doing something else if we wanted to make serious money!
Once the poor relation, vintage has finally succeeded in throwing off its musty old image (with a bit of help from Lily Allen et al) to become a celebrated subset of mainstream fashion. As such, it is inevitably attracting its share of sharks and opportunists who will always find a way to make a fast buck and excessive profits from whatever they see as being ripe for exploitation (think Portobello Road and developers). We can only hope that they will eventually move on to the next big thing, but we’re not holding our breath.
It never used to be so, but just like Notting Hill property, vintage prices seem to be spiralling ever upwards and there will always be people with more money than sense. In the meantime, we’ll just carry on regardless, vaunting the vintage, rocking the retro and celebrating the second hand, all the while sticking to the same slow fashion principles on which the Frockery was first founded.
Tags: affordable vintage, business overheads, frockery, kensington market, portobello road market, pricing, slow fashion, vintage clothing
Posted in budget fashion, vintage clothing | 2 Comments »
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011
It’s time…
As temperatures plummet outside, our cold weather wardrobe has officially been recalled for active duty.
Faux fur is everywhere again this season and makes a no-brainer addition to any winter wardrobe, including Rosie Webster’s on Coronation Street. Being especially fond of it ourselves, we have been adding a variety of faux fur coats and jackets to the catalogue, including the following lovelies.
This vintage Roman Originals sumptuous cream faux fur coat is one of our current favourites.
This classic dark brown vintage faux fur jacket will go with anything, from jeans to ball gown.
This cream faux fur gilet with leatherette belt will add a stylish layer of luxury and warmth to the winter wardrobe.
This dark brown faux fur jacket with cute rounded Peter Pan style collar is due to be listed soon.
This fabulous vintage silver grey faux fur coat is reminiscent of 80s Abba style.
And last but not least, a cute cream faux fur hood with pompoms!
Why not treat yourself? You’re so worth it!
Tags: fake fur, faux fur, vintage fashion, winter wardrobe
Posted in Fashion | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Gok’s Clothes Roadshow is currently showing on Channel 4 with a variation called Get the Look for Less and we must say we are disappointed. With his unashamed promotion of mass produced cheap tat, he has gone right off the boil, as far as we are concerned, having headed down the frozen fish finger aisle for an instantly gratifying, but ultimately unsatisfying, fast fashion fix. Yes, there may be a recession on, but dressing for less doesn’t have to involve scraping the bottom end of the fashion barrel. We should know! As frugal frockers, we have been banging on about it for years and started our Fifty Quid Fashion Challenge back in 2007.
Not so long ago, Gok’s affordable high street looks regularly used to trounce the overpriced designer outfits salivated over by his blonde sidekick (you know, the one with the dogs) in his famous fashion ‘face-offs’. Yet fast forward to the current series and the high street is being dissed in favour of what we can only describe as fish finger fashion. So it’s Brix no more, high end no more, independent designers no more; mid-price high street is no longer hip, and cheap supermarket ‘chic’ is where it’s at. That’s really going to help the retail sector, struggling as it is to pay the bills, with many more well known high street names looking vulnerable as quarterly rents fall due.
Regardless of Gok’s seeming enthusiasm for low budget clone wear, we doubt he’d be seen dead in a pair of George jeans or a Primark T-shirt himself. What’s more, buying cheap means that producers and suppliers down the fast fashion food chain are being shafted. Ethical policies developed in corporate board rooms and PR’d ad nauseam by faux-caring, designer-wearing, profit-loving professionals don’t mean much to exploited child labourers on the other side of the world who are hand sewing sequins on to your landfill leggings.
There are perfectly acceptable alternatives to fast fashion, which are every bit as affordable to those on tight budgets, such as charity shops, second hand stores, affordable vintage outlets, even the back of your own wardrobe (we found a Marcel Fenez 60s dress in ours last week that we hadn’t seen for years!) While you’re at it, why not dust off that old sewing machine, look out some knitting needles or crochet hooks and create something original as well as ethical? Students are past masters at dressing for less and can probably teach the rest of us a thing or two about saving money and slowing down to achieve style without sacrificing sustainability.
Please remember you don’t have to abandon principle and become a fish finger fashionista or Tesco trolley dolly just because some stylist said it was cool on the telly. Despite being big fans in the past, we reckon Gok’s latest menu is lacking in greens and more cheek than chic. The acronym BOGOF springs to mind.
Tags: eco-fashion, fast fashion, fish finger fashion, Gok Wan, slow fashion, supermarket chic
Posted in Fashion | No Comments »
Monday, August 1st, 2011
We were delighted to see this article in the Daily Mail the other day: Changing faces and fashions from 100 years of Kays catalogue.
Emily Allen reports:
“The extracts from the catalogue over the past 100 years have been released as part of a ‘Cataloging Kays’ project by the University of Worcester which will turn the photos and sketches dating back almost to the Victorian era into 1,500 digital images.
Their aim is to show how fashion and lifestyle taste have changed over the decades – and give shoppers a glimpse into the changing face of Britain’s wardrobe.
Project manager Jenni Waugh said the Kay’s story is important because the catalogues were aimed at ‘working people, not glamour goddesses’.”
How some of the fashion photographs took us back!
Anita Harris looked especially fab modelling a belted dress for Kays in 1972.
There was some hideous 80s gear, of course, which included the ubiquitous velour tracksuit (worn with heels!)
But how cute is this 1950s mother daughter look?
The Kays collection includes an almost a full set of mail order catalogues, along with photographs, company accounts, reports and minutes of board meetings.
Excitingly, it is soon to become much more widely accessible thanks to a £55,000 grant to facilitate the creation of an interactive digital web archive. This will not only allow viewing of the archived material but will also allow members of the public to add content by sharing their own memories of Kays catalogue in photographic or anecdotal form.
The BBC also covered the story here: Memories of Kays catalogue shopping. The video is well worth a watch.
What an excellent project!
Tags: fashion archive, kays catalogue
Posted in Fashion, Nostalgia | No Comments »
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
Frockery founder Alison first discovered Laura Ashley back in 1974 when she was a student at Edinburgh University. She and her friends used to frequent the Lothian Road shop which was temptingly filled with covetable cotton dresses in feminine floral prints, all designed to stretch the student grant to its limit. (Yes, we had grants back then!)
When she got married five years later, it was in a Victorian style cotton dress with a pin tucked bodice, self-designed with a strong Laura Ashley influence, and the bridesmaids wore dresses made from Laura Ashley fabric. Later she dressed her daughters, and continued to dress herself, in Laura Ashley clothes, ranging from day dresses and business suits to cocktail dresses and ballgowns. The attention to detail was always meticulous and the quality of the garments was unsurpassed on the high street during the brand’s heyday.
By way of background, Laura Ashley (nee Mountney) was born in Wales in 1925 and educated in London. Following her marriage to Bernard Ashley in 1949, she designed scarves from her London home for John Lewis and other retail stores. Her designs proved immensely popular and Bernard soon joined her in the fast expanding business which had also started selling by mail order.
Moving from London to Kent, then back to Laura’s native Wales, which had been the inspiration for many of her country floral designs, the brand enjoyed enormous success and in 1968 the first Laura Ashley shop opened in South Kensington, London. Increasing international interest and the addition of several thousand overseas outlets helped Laura Ashley grow a global following by the early 80s, although the brand sadly lost its creative force and much of its direction following the sudden tragic death of its founder after an accident in 1985.
The Frockery sells a wide selection of Laura Ashley brand clothing, mostly from the 80s, but occasionally we have earlier pieces on offer. Here are a few of the examples we currently have in stock, all at affordable prices and in excellent condition, and all timeless in their appeal.
80s cobalt blue Laura Ashley ballerina dress
80s Laura Ashley floral print sun dress
Laura Ashley red dress with back bows
Black velvet Laura Ashley prom dress
And coming soon!
Navy and white polka dot 80s Laura Ashley sailor dress
80s does 50s vintage Laura Ashley print dress
Tags: frockery, laura ashley, vintage fashion
Posted in Fashion, Frockery Focus | No Comments »
Thursday, June 16th, 2011
The fashion industry in Scotland contributes in excess of £750 million a year to the UK economy and the annual Scottish Fashion Awards attract worldwide interest.
Congratulations to this year’s winners, most especially to the talented Jonathan Saunders, who has won the top accolade of Designer of the Year for the second year in a row.
Clad in a Christopher Kane green lace dress, Samantha Cameron graced the Glasgow event along with a coterie of celebrity fashionistas. However, it was Shirley Bassey, wearing a head turning tartan Graeme Black gown with a sporran for a purse, who stole the show as far as we were concerned.
Just wow, what a lady! But (if you’ll forgive the shameless self-promotion) there’s no need to be a Big Spender to play up the plaid or rock the tartan.
Meanwhile, we have been inspired to look into recycling grandad’s old sporran!
Tags: jonathan saunders, samantha camerson, scottish fashion awards, shirley bassey, tartan
Posted in Designers, Fashion, Scotland | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Royal Ascot has opened today with its splendid combination of racing, royalty and fashion interest. The sun is shining and the bets are on, along with the hats and posh frocks.
Big statement hats seem to be in back in vogue and an array of head turning outfits in a multitude of colours is in evidence as we watch proceedings from our sofa 500 miles away. The Queen is in pale green and Beatrice seems to have learned her lesson when it comes to mad hattery, having ditched the pretzel look for something a little more becoming. Just as well it isn’t raining with all these open carriages as hats can turn very soggy (we type from experience).
Some of our own finest frockery will be making an appearance at Ascot again this year, mainly from our dress and millinery departments, as our discerning customers like to dress up without breaking the bank in the process.
Royals and celebrities may have unlimited budgets, but the rest of us have no need to pay top designer prices, or look like also-rans, to stand out from the crowd, although you need to watch out for the strict dress codes if you have tickets for the more exclusive Royal Ascot enclosures.
Why not check out some of our suggestions of fine, yet affordable, frockery for A Day at the Races? This sumptuous pink silk dress from Fenn Wright and Manson, which still has its shop tags attached, is just one example from our current catalogue.
Tags: a day at the races, preloved fashion, Royal Ascot
Posted in Fashion, Get the Look | 1 Comment »
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
Whether it’s for a wedding, a christening, a day at the races or even just to disguise a bad hair day, a hat can make a world of difference to an outfit.
As was evident at the royal wedding, hats come in all shapes, sizes and degrees of ugliness, and probably the kindest thing that can be said of Beatrice’s bizarre bonce topper is that it raised a lot of money for charity. Mad hattery indeed!
Meanwhile, here at the Frockery we have a selection of hats in stock which are guaranteed to turn heads, none of which have a Philip Treacy price tag. Here are a few of our current favourites.
In the pink
Tempting in turquoise
Seeing red
Back to black
Peachy
Or cream
For more millinery inspiration, we’d recommend dropping by Off With Her Head where you’ll find some truly awesome vintage inspired creations, all hand made by the lovely Lisa.
You’ve got a head, so get a hat! Or a fascinator, even. But not a pretzel, please.
Tags: hats, off with her head, princess beatrice
Posted in Fashion | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 15th, 2011
There’s nothing like a splash of colour to brighten up your wardrobe and your mood, is there? And the good news is that, boldly led by Prada, Louis Vuitton, Christopher Kane et al, colour blocking has made a grand entrance this season. Clashing primary colours, colourful stripes and bright accessories are definitely in and will help you stand out from the crowd.
If you can’t afford designer prices and want an affordable, yet unique look, why not take a browse through some of the vintage and retro pieces in our catalogue for inspiration? In the 80s we all wore dresses, blouses, suits, shoes, bags and belts in very bright reds, blues, greens, pinks and oranges, typically by Jacques Vert and good old M&S. Some of us even embraced neons without a hint of embarrassment!
Here are a few of our current colourful Frockery favourites which will hopefully inspire you to colour in your spring/summer wardrobe.
Bright blouses
Emerald green frill front New Romantic blouse Pink Victorian style frill collar blouse Bright blue linen sleeveless shirt Orange silk blouse
Stripes
70s green and black striped dress
Accessories
Electric blue beaded bag Red sunglasses Red suede belt Green and white bag
Be bold, have fun colouring in your wardrobe and remember to ask yourself: Why buy new when it’s more fashionable, frugal and eco-friendly to go retro?
Tags: 2011 trends, colour blocking, frockery
Posted in Fashion, Frockery Focus | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
So who else is watching Lily Allen’s From Riches to Rags story on Channel 4? We tuned in to see what all the fuss was about as we had read about Lucy in Disguise when it was launched as part of Vintage at Goodwood last summer. Aside from the initial blaze of publicity and a few follow up stories in some glossies, we hadn’t heard much about it since.
The idea of hiring, rather than buying, high end vintage apparel for special occasions certainly sounds an interesting one in principle. Moss Bros has shown for the past 160 years that garment hire works as a concept, and numerous designer dress and bag hire shops have popped up in more recent times, so why not vintage?
Sadly, Lily and her sister seem ill prepared for the challenges of setting up a new business in a sector of which neither has had any experience. At least they were honest about that from the outset and sensibly hired themselves a couple of experts, but throwing money down a black hole without a proper plan is inevitably going to end in tears. And there were more than a few of them from Lily when feedback from Mary Portas and a focus group of consumers was brutally honest about the concept, and especially the pricing, in the first episode.
The two episodes to date have not shown the project in a particularly good light and we can only hope it gets better. Storing couture vintage clothing in a smoke filled room which doubles as an office is nothing short of criminal – indeed is it not now a crime to smoke in office premises? – and will obviously be offputting to prospective customers, smokers and non smokers alike. Similarly, going off on buying sprees without customers or suitable premises on the immediate horizon is an especially perilous pursuit in the current economic climate as it will kill the cashflow stone dead. Enthusiasm for your product is no substitute for the hard work of marketing and selling it at the right price, preferably before your capital runs out!
We’ll continue to follow Lily’s progress (or otherwise) as it makes entertaining viewing, if a bit ‘car crash’ at times. As fellow vintage enthusiasts, albeit on a smaller and much more affordable scale, we wish her every success, but we’re very glad she has a fall back position in that she can sing!
Back to shop
Tags: business, lily allen, mary portas, riches to rags
Posted in vintage clothing | No Comments »
Saturday, March 5th, 2011
We are pleased that our first ever February eco-fashion challenge has helped raise awareness, albeit in a small way, of the benefits of wearing vintage, second hand and hand made clothing and accessories. Each and every participant demonstrated how great looks can be achieved by mixing charity shop purchases, vintage finds and hand made or recycled fashion, and everyone had fun doing so.
As well as attracting dedicated eco-fashionistas who needed no persuasion that it’s the way to go, we also made a few new converts to the cause, including young people who had never previously considered eco-frocking. We also made some lovely new friends along the way. Result!
We have previously blogged about the Preloved Reloved project which is the brainchild of Kim Sklinar, one of the new friends we met as a result of our challenge. She is raising money for charity by dressing exclusively in second hand clothes for a year and is on our exact wavelength as far as eco-fashion goes. Being waste aware sorts ourselves, we especially enjoyed this recent post, Frugality vs Waste, and we wholeheartedly share her antipathy towards rampant consumerism and our wasteful throwaway society.
Although eco-frockers like ourselves are rarely to be found in high street fashion outlets, just occasionally we take a stroll round a few of them when we are in town. So last week, with some time to while away before a dental appointment, we visited two such stores to see what is currently on offer in the world of fast fashion. First off, the sheer volume of identical garments in a factory sized space felt like an assault on the senses. Rails and rails of mass produced soulless sameness! On closer inspection, the quality of some of the pieces ranged from poor to appalling, but equally shocking was the price of some of them.
Indeed the experience was almost as painful as the subsequent root canal treatment and we naturally left with nothing (without feeling remotely like the weakest link). Fortunately, we found welcome solace in the charity shop next to the dental surgery which offered up a fabulous military style coat dress, originally from Principles and in good as new condition. It will be having its first second hand outing with its new owner this weekend.
Back to shop
Tags: eco-fashion, fast fashion, Preloved Reloved, throwaway society, waste
Posted in Environment, Fashion | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
Readers of our blog will know we have a soft spot for the lovable stylist Gok Wan and we are enjoying the return of his Clothes Roadshow (Tuesdays at 8pm on Channel 4). Knowing what suits your body shape is a lesson well learned if you want to avoid becoming a fashion victim and Gok excels in educating ladies of all shapes and sizes on what they should wear and, equally importantly, what they should avoid in the wardrobe department.
We especially love the weekly fashion face-offs, in which Gok goes head to head with designer label lover Brix Smith-Start in showcasing key trends and inviting the audience to vote for high street or high end. This week’s show, from Nottingham, featured four fabulous fashion themes: tartan, metallics, bold florals and fringing. Now while we would expect the designer looks to be expensive (and they were!), Gok’s ‘humble’ high street outfits still averaged a whopping £465, which is way beyond many fashionistas’ budgets, especially in these austere times. There are plenty of key pieces which will set you back far less than £100 on the high street, or even less than £50 if you are a creative eco-fashionista, so we thought we’d show off some of our own frockery as a far less expensive, yet stylish, alternative for each of these four featured looks.
Tartan
When it comes to tartan, we always have a good selection in our Scots Frockery department, often for a lot less than Gok’s (admittedly stunning) picnic blankets look! And despite the designer price tag, we also wholeheartedlyapproved of Brix’s choice, as there is simply no beating traditional tartan and the skill of an expert kilt maker. However, there are plenty of preloved and vintage pieces available at a fraction of the cost of new designer or high street, and tartan is consistently one of our own best sellers which can be worn season after season for traditional occasions or everyday attire .
Plaid pieces from our current stock include this vintage tartan wool jacket with cute fringed pockets (a snip at £25) and this vintage tartan maxi skirt with metallic embossed buckle (only £18).
Metallics
We think we can also compete pretty well in the metallics stakes. Metallic dresses and jackets are enduringly popular, as are shoes, shawls and accessories. Our current favourites include this silver metallic dress (reduced to £15) and this glam retro metallic jacket (£10).
We also love these metallic peep toe shoes (£12) and gold metallic heels (£14), both by Roland Cartier.
Bold florals
We always have lots of florals in stock for boldly mixing and matching or playing somewhat safer with classic floral frocks. Take, for example, this bright bold floral dress (£15) or this 70s bold floral print dress (£20).
Or how about a red floral silk top (£9) and/or a vintage floral skirt (£12), all suitably accessorised of course.
Hey, we even have some bright floral shorts (think Brix’s floral designer choice) in stock!
Fringing
When we saw the £845 (gulp!) designer dress for this look, we had a sense of déjà vu as Alison owns a similar fringed frock bought in south London in 1982 which she remembers patiently waiting to be reduced in a sale. At above knee length, it is longer than the Brix dress and is not designer, but it is every bit as wearable today as it was then.Sadly, Alison’s size 10 shape has long since timed out, but the dress is still occasionally worn by her svelte daughter.
In stock at the moment we have this cute black fringed dress for £20 which still has its shop tags attached and fits the fashion trend perfectly. And for only £10 we have this sheer net fringed poncho with sparkly dots, which can be belted in at the waist (slightly reminiscent of Gok’s £300+ customised crystal encrusted number?)
We hope you’ll agree that, while Gok undoubtedly rocks, the Frockery both rocks and rolls back the cost! We stand firmly by our Frockery mantra, which applies to designer and high street labels alike:
Why buy new when it’s more fashionable, frugal and eco-friendly to go retro?
Back to shop
Tags: bold florals, eco-fashion, fringing, Gok Wan, metallics, tartan
Posted in Fashion, Get the Look | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
We must admit that the findings of a recent survey of consumers’ clothes hoarding habits, as reported in the Daily Mail, came as little surprise to us. We have, after all, been banging on about unworn wardrobe contents for years.
Having founded our business to help give these hidden, hitherto unworn gems a new lease of life, we can honestly say there is nothing more satisfying than rehoming one woman’s (or man’s) expensive mistake with a new, appreciative owner who will love it and actually wear it.
We all know the clothes shopping routine and, if we are honest, can identify with the all too familar result. What may once have seemed like a dress/coat/top/skirt to die for ends up languishing at the back of the wardrobe for one reason or another, and now we wouldn’t be seen dead in it!
The latest research, conducted by the shopping channel QVC, just serves as a reminder of the extent of the ‘problem’ and highlights some scarily stark statistics.
British women have wasted an astonishing £1.6 billion on clothes they never wear but refuse to throw out.
If placed on a single rail, the 500million unworn items of clothing would stretch over 15,500 miles – that’s four-and-a-half times the distance from London to New York.
The average woman hoards 22 items that she will never wear, worth a total of £285.
Over half have six or more tops that they would not be seen dead in, and a third have six or more unworn pairs of shoes.
There is a geographical divide, with London ladies topping the wasters’ league with £302.29 worth of unworn clothes, followed closely by the Scots (£301.90) and the Northern Irish (£290.28). The Welsh are by far the canniest women with only £223.96 of unworn items lurking in each of their wardrobes.
Men behave almost as badly, collectively wasting a staggering £1.2 billion on clothes they never wear. The average UK Joe has 19 unworn items of clothing, worth around £248, in the dark recesses of his closet.
Excuses range from guilt at wasting money and “waiting” (not wanting?) to lose weight, to hoping the faux pas might actually come back into fashion “one day”. Oh dear!
Sue Leeson from QVC says: “Finding out what you have already means that you can become a smart shopper and focus your wardrobe, buying key pieces that coordinate with each other properly.” Good advice, undoubtedly, but we also need to bear in mind which styles best flatter our body shape and which colours best suit us, all without breaking the bank.
Fortunately, help is at hand in the form of Gok Wan, who has just returned to Channel 4 with his clothes roadshow, promising to get us all shopping, swapping and dressing smarter, and proving you don’t need to spend a fortune to look fabulous. So no more excuses!
Back to shop
Tags: frockery, Gok Wan, hoarding, unworn clothes, waste
Posted in Fashion, General | No Comments »
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
We meant to post before now about the Dressember challenge, and even take part in it ourselves, but we got rather preoccupied with our own snow focused challenges and had to wimp out. Next year we will do it!
Dressember is capturing the imagination of dress lovers everywhere and raising funds for the charity Refuge at the same time. You can visit their justgiving page to donate and also like their Facebook page.
Here is the lowdown on the challenge:
December 1st marks the beginning of ‘Dressember’ – the challenge for women (or the adventurous male) everywhere to shake up their wardrobe and try ditching the jeans and t-shirts.
We’re aiming to wear dresses as often as possible – don’t worry if it’s not practical in the day, you can go for a skirt/top combo if needed, or have fun and dress up in the evening in that cocktail dress you never get to wear!
As well as having fun we are hoping to raise a bit of cash for Refuge and have a just giving page for this purpose here: http://www.justgiving.com/dressember.
Feel free to share your photos in the group or on your own wall if you’re shy, just have fun with it, and try something different for the month – plus it’a party season, so use the wall to ask if you need help deciding!
There are no rules, it’s all about stretching your wardrobe boundaries, trying something different, and having fun, so just jump on in.
Given our snowbound status, which came upon us so suddenly and prevented our own participation this year, we thought we would feature a couple of dynamic dresser-uppers who we know will do Dressember proud.
Firstly, we have the lovely Julia, who blogs over at Imperfect Mother and who chose a Frockery frock for her first Dressember outing. That 60s dress could have been made for her as it bright, bold, vibrant, sunshiny and oh so tiny, but perfectly formed – just like the model. Who could guess Julia has recently given birth to a beautiful new baby!
Amber, meanwhile, is undeterred by a bit of the white stuff and is embracing the challenge in her own inimitable style, complete with snow shovel, on her Forever Amber blog. She is putting us fellow Scots to wimpish shame, but our excuse is that we are further north and have had more feet of snow!
Kudos to everyone who is dressing up this December. Maybe we could do jumpers in July?
Back to shop
Tags: december, dressember, dresses, forever amber, imperfect mother
Posted in Fashion, Frockery Focus | No Comments »
Monday, October 18th, 2010
The UK budget deficit reached a staggering £155 billion in the last financial year. In other words, the government has spent £155 billion more than it has ‘earned’ from taxation. That’s an awful lot of debt (plus interest) to pay back when there aren’t enough ‘customers’ paying into the treasury coffers to keep the country solvent.
This week’s spending review will tell us just how bad it’s going to get for individuals and businesses, many of whom are already feeling the pinch in these troubled economic times. There has been much speculation about where and how heavily the axe will fall across each and every area of government spending and the review will undoubtedly contain some very bitter pills. The only thing for sure is that frugality is well and truly back in fashion for the majority of us, and probably for a long time to come.
Almost without exception, we will have to learn to make do and mend as cuts in government spending will have far reaching implications, not just for public sector jobs but for the wider economy. Serious belt tightening is called for, and there are already signs of a ‘correction’ in shopping habits as former spendaholic impulse buyers are transformed by necessity into bargain seekers, and fashionistas adapt to the more realistic ‘recessionista’ mode .
It is vital to get a grip on personal finances in anticipation of the rainy days ahead, but it is entirely possible to shop on a shoestring and dress for less when needs must. Why not take a leaf out of the inspirational New Dress A Day blog, which follows frugal fashionista Marisa Lynch as she spends a whole year without going traditional clothes shopping?
As she explained at the start of her project, which now has just 42 days to run:
“The only shopping that I’ll be able to do is that of pieces that have been used and worn already. So long to mall trips and hello to sifting through piles of vintage pieces at flea markets and at neighborhood garage sales. Each day for the entire year, I’m going to introduce a new piece into my existing wardrobe that I’ve found from these places. On top of this, I’m giving myself a budget of $1 a day. One person’s trash is becoming my treasure this year.”
Now that’s what we’d call extreme shoestring shopping, but Marisa has done a truly amazing job of creating and reinventing outfits from other people’s cast offs and probably deserves a Nobel prize for services to textiles recycling!
If, however, making and altering your own clothes is beyond your skills set, and/or you simply haven’t the time to scour second hand stores and thrift shops for bargain buys, there is always the option of buying second hand or vintage from those of us who have done the sourcing for you. The financial savings from eschewing new in favour of preloved or vintage can be considerable, and so we feel obliged at this point to indulge in some shameless self promotion to remind readers of the benefits of online shopping at the Frockery, which is affordable, convenient and secure with a no quibble returns policy.
What is there to lose, apart from that overdraft?
Tags: frockery, frugal fashion, make do and mend, new dress a day, spending review
Posted in budget fashion, General | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
Here at The Frockery we are big fans of the cape – long or short, plain or plaid, tweed, mohair, whatever – and are pleased to see it being resurrected this season by a new generation of fashionistas who have rediscovered its appeal as a stylish, versatile, practical and fun garment.
Frocker-in-chief Alison’s predilection for cape wearing was first captured on camera at a wedding in the late 60s where she modelled a browny green tweed number her mother had made, complete with brass lion and chain fastenings, over a somewhat sickly yellow shift dress. Later in her teens, she would wear and wear (to fraying point) a long hooded cloak over the maxi and midi dresses that were in vogue at the time, before going on to experiment with an avant-garde creation cleverly crafted from a couple of camel blankets. She was already a confirmed caperer.
Alison also recalls that, back in the winter of 1974, Laura Ashley was selling a full length, hooded, heavy black velvet cape, which was truly stunning and featured high on the wish list of many of her student friends for whom Afghan coats had begun to lose their appeal (mainly on grounds of smell). Only one of the impecunious group could afford to buy the said cape and, for some unfathomable reason, chose to team it with a stripy Edinburgh University law faculty scarf, which was not a great combo even in the fashion faux pas forgiving 70s. To this day, the friend wishes she’d ditched the scarf and kept the cape!
Fast forward to 2010 and Alison remains a committed cape crusader who endeavours to keep a selection of capes and cloaks in stock at The Frockery.
If you favour an easy wear, casual style, take a look at this natural coloured acrylic wool mix cape by Amari with fringing detail, ribbed collar and toggle fastening at the neck.
To make more of a statement, and to keep warm this winter, try this longer length black and tan check wool cape with arm slits and button fastenings.
If mohair is more your thing, we have two short and cute vintage beauties, one in rose pink by Andrew Stewart and the other in fuchsia, purple and navy plaid from the Scotch House.
Also for the vintage lovers, this blue wool three piece incorporates another of the season’s trends, the kilt (complete with metal kilt pin), along with matching sleeveless jacket and cute capelet. Very Miss Marple!
We recently sold this lovely 60s tweed cape with faux fur trimmed hood,
but we have just taken delivery of a vintage black wool nurse’s cape with bright red lining and crossover straps. Perfect for re-enactment and themed events, but warm and wearable whatever the occasion.
If the cape fits – and it will, whatever your size – wear it with pride and panache!
Tags: capes, trends, update
Posted in Fashion, Get the Look | No Comments »
Monday, September 20th, 2010
Fabrican (literally, fabric in a can), which was showcased at the Science in Style show at London Fashion Week, is an innovative spray-on textile developed by Spanish fashion designer Michael Torres in collaboration with the Royal College of Art and scientists at Imperial College London.
The spray forms a seamless fabric when sprayed directly on to the body, is easy to peel off and can be washed and reworn.
The Guardian reports that “Torres took 15 minutes to spray a T-shirt onto a male model in a demonstration”, which is significantly longer than throwing on a conventional T, so it may not catch on with the fast fashionistas.
Another drawback we have identified is that, while spray-on clothing may be fine for those without too many inches to pinch, some of us would need multiple layers of spray to keep the bulges at bay, or just smooth them out a bit. Will Fabrican spray directly on to Spanx, we wonder?
On a serious note, this is an exciting invention, which has a myriad of applications, not least of all for medical use as sterile spray-on bandages. We aren’t sure it will catch on as a fashion textile, but we are certainly impressed by its multiple use and reuse potential.
Take a look at this link for some video demos of Fabrican in action.
We’ll need a rub down and some filler at the body shop before booking our respray, so will be sticking to conventional clobber in the meantime.
Tags: fabrican, London Fashion Week, spray on clothing, textiles
Posted in Designers, Fashion | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010
As B.A. Robertson once sang, it’s Kool in the Kaftan. We don’t disagree, but looking back with the benefit of hindsight, B.A.’s own fashion sense left a great deal to be desired!
Kaftans are not only ‘kool’, they are also comfortable and can be dressed up or down. A big unisex trend in the 70s, the kaftan remains a popular and versatile choice for every day wear, lounge wear, festival and holiday wear.
Whether you opt for a kaftan style top or tunic to wear with jeans, a knee length dress or a full length version, you are sure to find a kaftan that is ‘kool’ for you, with or without traditional embroidery and embellishment, in cotton or other cool fabrics, in a wide variety of colours.
Here are some of our current stock favourites.
70s full length embroidered kaftan
Denim maxi kaftan
Black beaded kaftan
Fuchsia kaftan style top
All together now!
Fee fi fiddley dum
I’m on the sitar tabla drum
Fee fi fiddley dan
Kool in the kaftan
Love and peace man
Fee fi fiddley di
Three button t-shirt it’s a tie-dye
Fee fi fiddley dan
Kool in the kaftan
Love and peace man
(Full lyrics available here)
Tags: 70s fashion, B.A. Robertson, kaftan
Posted in Fashion, Get the Look | No Comments »
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
The inaugural Vintage at Goodwood festival kicks off tomorrow with a promise to celebrate “creative British cool from the 40s, 50s,60s,70s and 80s” and a stated ambition to recreate a new, vintage focused Festival of Britain.
The three day extravaganza in Sussex is the brainchild of Geraldine and Wayne Hemingway, founders of Red or Dead and lovers of all things vintage, who wanted to bring together the fashion, music, art and culture of bygone eras to showcase Britain’s rich and creative heritage.
On the music front, Vintage at Goodwood will feature an inspirational line up of world renowned bands and DJs from each of the decades as well as contemporary performers who have taken inspiration from the original artists. Performing for the first time in many years, Sandie Shaw will be a special highlight for festival goers.
There will also be five clubs on site which will replicate ballrooms, clubs and disco venues of past decades: the 1940s styled Torch Club; Let it Rock, which will celebrate 50s rock and roll culture; the Leisure Dome for easy listening and light pop; the Soul Casino Nightclub, a two room re-creation of a 1970s Mecca ballroom; and the Warehouse & Roller Disco which aims to capture the vibe “from 70s Funk and Disco, through early 80s Electro, Boogie, Rare Groove and onto early Rave and Acid House, played out in a fully recreated industrial warehouse and adjacent Roller Disco”. Wow!
In addition to the music, the Vintage High Street will include shops, vintage hair styling salons, vintage cafes, restaurants and bars, as well as a marketplace packed with vintage clothing sellers. Meanwhile, the Vintage Timeline promises to “examine the lineage of art, design and the wider creative industries – culminating in Future vintage – future gazing about what we as a nation will be celebrating in 25 years”.
Vintage at Goodwood certainly promises to be the most amazing weekend, but it’s sadly a bit far for us to travel. We will be heading for Edinburgh instead for a flurry of fantastic Fringe frockery!
Tags: festivals, vintage at goodwood
Posted in Fashion, Nostalgia | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Like Marmite, you will either love or hate this shimmery blue 1980s jumpsuit / flying suit which we have just added to the catalogue. To be frank, the jury is still out at Frockery Towers, but it can certainly be described as sensational and is not for the faint hearted fashionista. Abba aficionadas , come on down!
One which didn’t quite make the catalogue (as a Facebook fan snapped it up) was this psychedelic 60s number, which has apparently already caused a sensation in the customer’s local Asda. The George clothing line can’t quite compete with original vintage!
Those who aren’t quite ready to embrace such ‘in your face’ fashion need have no fear, however, as we have something for everyone at The Frockery, where our focus is on finding new homes for all those previously ‘must have’ items that have turned into ‘has beens’ and found themselves relegated to the back of wardrobes or abandoned in attics, sometimes for decades.
Take a look at the fab frockery in our latest update and you will find some exceedingly wearable vintage and retro fashion, as well as a huge selection of preloved contemporary clothing and accessories at a fraction of their original cost. Don’t be fooled by the fickle fashion police into following the crowd when you can mix and match pre-owned items to achieve a unique look at an affordable price. Throw off these high street chains and be a retro trendsetter!
One serious story that caught our eye this week was this Observer investigation which revealed that some of the best known names on the UK high street have been dealing, albeit unknowingly, with suppliers who run sweatshop operations in India in blatant contravention of local working regulations and the industry’s ethical trading initiative (ETI). Another good reason to buy fair trade, hand made, local or vintage.
Tags: ethical fashion, fashion police, update, vintage clothing
Posted in Fashion, General | 1 Comment »
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
John Bates, creator of the vintage Jean Varon label, was undoubtedly one of the most influential and iconic designers of the 60s and 70s.
Born in Northumberland in 1938, Bates secured an apprenticeship at the age of 18 with the design house Herbert Sidon in London before becoming a freelance fashion illustrator and going on, in 1959, to found Jean Varon – a name he allegedly chose because it was French and sounded more sophisticated.
Along with his contemporaries, he helped push the boundaries of 60s fashion, raising hemlines to unprecedented heights, introducing trouser suits for women and creating the mesh midriff bikini dress. He made use of futuristic shapes and fabrics, especially leather and vinyl, in his avant-garde designs and is even credited by some as having been the inventor of the mini skirt.
Julie Christie wore one of his dresses in ‘Shampoo’ and he designed the iconic black leather catsuit worn by Diana Rigg as Emma Peel, along with a whole range of clothing for the Avengers series. Meanwhile, one of his midriff exposing designs won Dress of the Year in 1965. This newsreel film, Dressed to Kill, gives a flavour of his innovative work during the swinging 60s and even features designs for canines!
By the 1970s, ultra feminine evening wear was becoming a key element of the Jean Varon label, with the famous backless evening dress making its debut in 1973 and the empire line gown consistently featuring in collections. Royalty and many of the celebrities of the day – including Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra, Julie Christie and Dusty Springfield – wore Jean Varon, assuring John Bates his well deserved place as one of the most influential designers in fashion history.
John Bates is currently living, and painting, in Wales.
We have been privileged to offer several Jean Varon pieces at The Frockery over the past few years and they are invariably snapped up quickly by discerning customers. We currently have this evening dress in stock, which is a beautiful example of Jean Varon and every bit as wearable today as it was in the 1970s.
Tags: 60s fashion, 70s fashion, Jean Varon, John Bates
Posted in Designers, Fashion, Frockery Focus | No Comments »
Friday, July 9th, 2010
T in the Park kicks off again at Balado today, and we have it on good authority that some of our frockery will be making an appearance at Fancy Dress Friday for this year’s ‘Mad Hatter’s T Party’ theme.
Despite the recent heatwave, the weather is not looking at all promising so wellies will be a prerequisite for all festival goers, whatever else they choose to step out in. Sadly we won’t be joining them this year but it promises to be another fantastic weekend with an enviable line up which includes the magnificent Muse, Eminem and Kasabian.
Boho festival frockery is one of our favourite looks and we have a good selection of maxi dresses, skirts and tops to take you through the summer festival season and beyond. Don’t forget the woollies for when the temperature drops and the sun cream (just in case!), but above all remember to pack the tent poles, toilet paper and a supply of wet wipes. We speak from experience!
Tags: festivals, T in the Park
Posted in Fashion, General, Scotland | No Comments »
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
The Frockery turned out on 3rd July along with some of Scotland’s finest vintage venturers for a vintage and retro related jamboree in Kirkcaldy, hosted by the Joint Regonal Development Trust to raise funds for the B-eat Charity which supports people with eating disorders.
Alongside stalls aplenty selling clothing, millinery, jewellery and home wares, the Green Cockatoo tea room served up welcome sustenance in truly traditional style, while music from down the decades complemented the atmosphere of the day.
The highlight for us was the afternoon catwalk show which featured pieces from some of the stallholders, including the Frockery. The young models showed the clothes off to great effect as they strutted their stuff across the stage, showcasing outfits from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
It was an exhausting day, but we thoroughly enjoyed it, met some lovely people and acquired a few new customers. Take a bow, Hazel Kelly, for putting together such a successful event for such a worthy cause.
Tags: 50s fashion, 60s fashion, 70s fashion, 80s fashion, frockery, retro clothing, vintage clothing
Posted in Fashion, retro clothing, Scotland, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Well, we have returned from holiday in time for the so called austerity budget and are not looking forward to the inevitable belt tightening that lies ahead for all of us. One of the aims of The Frockery is to provide quality clothing and accessories at affordable prices and we are determined not to disappoint.
We have experienced a few delays with our new website, but all the blips should be ironed out this week and we will of course provide forewarning of the changeover to our new look. Meanwhile, we are busy catching up on holiday orders and have a lot of super stock to add to our new catalogue so will be burning the midnight oil for the rest of the week. We are also looking forward to taking part in the vintage fashion fair and catwalk show in Kirkcaldy on 3rd July.
Tags: budget fashion, frockery, wesbite
Posted in budget fashion, Fashion, General | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
We have just updated the catalogue with a selection of the finest frockery, from silk tops to leather jackets with a few hats thrown in! We want to make it easy to get your summer style sorted for a fraction of the original cost, whether you fancy boho festival chic, want to add some glamour to your holiday wardrobe or go all out for that fearless SATC look.
But remember, we will be away for two weeks from Friday 4th and won’t be sending out goods until our return on 21st June, so please get any last orders to us before 12 noon on Friday.
Our new website is meanwhile nearing completion and should be ready for action on our return. We are very excited about our new look and have incorporated some customers’ suggestions, so we hope you will like it!
Tags: frockery, stock update, summer frockery
Posted in budget fashion, Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Whatever will we do on a Friday night now that Ashes to Ashes has ended? The finale was so good we had to watch it twice! Shame about the Quattro, but oh what a poignant episode as all the loose ends from Life on Mars and the previous two Ashes series were tied up (sort of).
These two popular BBC series have undoubtedly helped fuel a 70s and 80s retro revival as cast members flaunted the fashions of the decades that good taste forgot without a hint of embarrassment. We have some fab retro leather jacket in stock and a selection of 70s dresses for which sunglasses may be required! And while Alex Drake tottered about in high heels like these and donned highly impractical white leather gear and some distinctly dodgy off the shoulder numbers for work as a DI at Fenchurch East, Ray seemed almost surgically attached to his leather bomber jacket. Those were the days…
As a consolation, Gok’s Fashion Fix is back and got off to a flying start last night on Channel 4 with the “buy less, wear more” message. He is a savvy stylist who, we are pleased to say, recognises the potential of vintage pieces to personalise an ordinary high street outfit. Brix Smith-Start, the designer junkie he vies with every week to win over an audience with his high street chic, may have her work cut out this series as we are all having our belts forcibly tightened to reduce the domestic deficit and won’t have the budget for many (or even any) £800 dresses. The solution is to shop smart at stores like The Frockery – but we would say that, wouldn’t we?
Tags: 80s fashion, ashes to ashes, gene hunt, Gok Wan
Posted in Fashion, retro clothing, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Apologies for the longer than usual break between updates from the frock face, but we have been busy working on our new website design which will hopefully be ready for unveiling next month. Customers are advised that we will be closed for business from 4th June until 21st June for our annual summer break.
It will soon be the festival season which is the perfect excuse to throw on some boho style frockery and soak up the music and atmosphere. We just love this crochet maxi dress and this ethnic print silk skirt (but don’t forget the wellies!) Tea dresses are meanwhile proving a popular choice this season, despite a distinct chill remaining in the air when the sun goes down.
Looking a bit further in advance, we will be at the charity vintage fair being held in Kirkcaldy on 3rd July and showing a few outfits at the catwalk show, so put the date in your diary and drop by to say hello if you are in the vicinity.
Tags: boho fashion, festivals, retro clothing, vintage clothing
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Another catalogue update has just been completed and we are especially loving this grey longer length cardigan with colourful motifs and this fabulous cream ostrich leather handbag which will complement any outft. As promised, we have listed a selection of lovely Laura Ashley dresses, some of which have already been snapped up.
Thank you to all the lovely customers who have taken the time to send us feedback on our services and suggestions for our website which is currently being redeveloped to include a host of new features. We are trying to include as many ideas as possible to improve the Frockery shopping experience and should be ready to unveil the new look website by the end of May. We have to say we are more than a little excited at the prospect!
Tags: frockery, laura ashley, update
Posted in budget fashion, Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Saturday, April 3rd, 2010
Happy Easter to all our customers and website visitors! We will be closed on Easter Monday but have been burning the midnight oil to bring you another catalogue update to peruse over the holiday weekend.
We have just listed an Aquascutum navy raincoat in immaculate condition and in a generous size 16, along with a selection of fab footwear including these cute tan suede pixie boots and these vintage blue peep toe heels. If it’s denim jackets that take your fancy this spring, take a look at our selection here.
We thoroughly enjoyed the return of the Gene Genie (along with a perm free Alex) in Ashes to Ashes last night and will be firing up the Quattro to get away for a day or two ourselves!
Tags: aquascutum, ashes to ashes, frockery, update
Posted in Designers, Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
We have just added a few more pieces to the catalogue, including a beautiful 1970s Marion Donaldson deep red velvet and lace dress and the cutest retro red pleated skirt from Clockhouse.
We also have quite number of Laura Ashley summer dresses in stock, mostly size 8/10, which will be making their way onto the website in the next week or so, as well as a selection of scarves, shoes and accessories to put some spring into your wardrobe.
And don’t forget that Ashes to Ashes is back for its third series starting Friday 2nd April! We are all looking forward to revisiting the 80s and catching up with our favourite Gene Genie.
Tags: ashes to ashes, clock house, frockery, Marion Donaldson, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping, retro clothing, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Friday, March 12th, 2010
We have been missing in action on the Frockery Talk front lately as it has been so busy here. We have, however, been enjoying modest success in matching items to customers’ requests, although some we are unfortunately unable to fulfil.
This week we have been sorting through lovely Laura Ashley dresses, cowboy shirts and a selection of trench coats, all of which should soon be making an appearance in the catalogue. We have also just taken delivery of a beautiful vintage 1970s dress by Marion Donaldson, one of our favourite designers. And just how cute are these 80s pink court shoes?
Our new website is still at the planning stage, but we are making progress. Thanks to all who have contributed suggestions for additions and improvements, either directly or via Twitter. We are hoping to launch a brand new site by the summer and it’s all very exciting!
Tags: frockery, retro shoes, update
Posted in Fashion, General, retro clothing, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
We have just updated the catalogue with a selection of jackets, coats and some pretty blouses. We also have some super jumpers looking for new homes which will be listed in the next few days, including chunky arran and traditional knitwear. It has been snowing here again and warm woollies look like staying a wardrobe staple for the foreseeable future.
Our sourcing service has been busy of late and we have managed to match a number of items with customers as they come into stock. We get some unusual and often quite specific requests (does anyone have a nurse’s cloak from Ashludie hospital or an original Biba feather boa?) While we obviously can’t always guarantee a result, we do always keep our eyes open for wanted items, so just drop us an email with a note of your requests.
In an effort to expand our horizons, we have been doing some business networking over the past couple of weeks and meeting all sorts of interesting people at conferences and seminars. One event last week had Michelle Mone, founder of Ulltimo and one of Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurs, as its keynote speaker and her presentation was both entertaining and inspirational. However, it also reminded of us why we want to stay small and we don’t see key performance indicators coming to The Frockery anytime soon!
Tags: frockery, michelle mone, networking, sourcing, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 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.
Tags: frockery, lingerie, lolita lempicka, Valentine's Day
Posted in budget fashion, Designers, Fashion, General, Gifts, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Sunday, January 24th, 2010
Apologies for the lack of recent frockery talk, but we have been battling off bouts of colds and flu here. Hopefully a few drams for Burns Night tomorrow will help see off the last of the lurgy and we can start looking forward to the first snowdrops of spring, as well as some spring in our own step!
We have been incredibly busy this past month and would like to welcome all our lovely new customers and thank our equally lovely regulars for continuing to support us. We always appreciate your feedback and remember that, in the event that an item doesn’t fit or it isn’t suitable for any reason, you can be sure of a prompt refund.
We have just added another selection of new stock, ranging from warm woolly jumpers to pretty party frocks, and we hope you’ll enjoy browsing through the site. We will be sorting and cataloguing our latest arrivals this week, so do please keep dropping by the site by to see what’s new.
Tags: Burns night, frockery, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping, Scotland | No Comments »
Monday, January 4th, 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.
Tags: clearance, faux fur, frockery, new year, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Monday, December 14th, 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.
Tags: Christmas, frockery, holidays, last orders
Posted in Christmas, Fashion, General, Gifts | No Comments »
Monday, December 7th, 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 RBS Worldpay 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!
Tags: frockery, Online Shopping, update
Posted in Christmas, Fashion, General, Gifts, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Thursday, November 26th, 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 are absolutely loving some of the fabulous frocks which have just been listed in the evening and party dress category and we 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!
Tags: frockery, glamour and glitz, returns policy, update, vintage sizing
Posted in Christmas, Fashion, General, Men, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 11th, 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 and a fab gents’ Kilspindie cardigan which looks equally good on a girl! We think you’ll agree she wears them well.
Tags: faux fur, frockery, royal mail
Posted in Fashion, General, Gifts, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 28th, 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.
Tags: frockery, handbags, Radley, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Thursday, September 24th, 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!
Tags: budget fashion, credit crunch chic, eco-style, new designers 2009
Posted in budget fashion, eco-style, Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Thursday, September 24th, 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!
Tags: credit crunch, frockery
Posted in budget fashion, ethical fashion, Fashion, General, green fashion, Online Shopping, retro clothing, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 19th, 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.
Tags: absolutely legless, edinburgh fringe, festivals, frockery
Posted in Fashion, General | No Comments »
Saturday, July 25th, 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.
Tags: frockery, Glasgow School of Art, new designers 2009
Posted in Designers, Fashion, General | No Comments »
Thursday, July 2nd, 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!
Tags: frockery, holidays, new designers 2009
Posted in Designers, Fashion, General | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 26th, 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 keep checking the What’s New link!
Tags: degree show, frockery, weddings, what's new
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Monday, May 11th, 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!
Tags: 80s fashion, ashes to ashes, frockery, sourcing, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Nostalgia, Online Shopping, retro clothing, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Sunday, April 26th, 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, some of which we have in stock. It seems that belt tightening is now more fashionable than ever!
Tags: 80s fashion, ashes to ashes, budget fashion, frockery, Gok's fashion fix
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
We admit to being fans of Gok Wan’s Fashion Fix, which returned to our screens last night for a new series. However, we aren’t so sure about his ebullient, over confident sidekick, Blix Smith-Start, whose designer label obsession seems a bit unhealthy in the present economic climate. Although Blix’s designer outfits may have won the audience vote in the first programme of the new series, Gok’s high street chic wasn’t far behind, but still on the expensive side for us.
For real credit crunch chic, you need look no further than The Frockery (we would say that wouldn’t we!) You really don’t need to spend a small fortune on fashion when you can put together a unique outfit for less than £50, or, if times are tight, jazz up your look with stylish accessories for under a tenner. We have a great selection in stock to help you revive a tired wardrobe without resorting to fast fashion faux pas – and without breaking the bank.
Tags: budget fashion, frockery, Gok's fashion fix
Posted in budget fashion, Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Friday, April 3rd, 2009
Michelle Obama has certainly raised the First Lady fashion stakes in London this week with her effortless elegance and unique, often quirky, style.
For the ‘first wives club’ visit to the Royal Opera House and on a later visit to a girls’ school in London, Mrs Obama wore a fab teal dress by Jason Wu topped with an unusual but stunning asymmetrical cardigan by designer Junya Watanabe, which caused something of a stir among cardigan lovers and haters alike!
Indeed she has worked the cool cardigan look all week , sporting a sparkly cream number by J Crew over a mint green pencil skirt for a visit to Downing Street and, for meeting the queen, a black cardigan (reputedly by Azzedine Alaia) over a sophisticated Isabel Toledo dress with white bodice and black skirt.
As our regular visitors will know, we are big fans of the humble cardigan and are glad to see Mrs O raise its profile so stylishly. Only the other week we were in full cardi praising flow on our Frockery Talk update, and we have a wide selection in stock in all colours, shapes and sizes.
Like Michelle we love the cardigan, not only for its its versatility but for its comfort and practicality. Cardigans are now cool, it’s official!
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Thursday, March 26th, 2009
The Frockery has had a call from a nursing home where a staff member has accidentally shrunk the favourite jumper of one of its elderly residents. The staff all feel so bad about this mishap that they have taken it upon themselves to try and find a replacement.
Although we do stock Kilspindie knitwear from time to time, we have nothing suitable at the moment, so we thought we would put out an APB for a jumper of this description: size L, navy wool, V neck with cabling, and contrast green and red stripes around the neck, hem and cuffs.
If you or anyone you know can help match a suitable Kilspindie with this delightful elderly gentleman, please contact us and we will put you directly in touch with the nursing home. We know it would make both the elderly gentleman and the nursing home staff very happy!
Tags: Kilspindie, knitwear
Posted in General, Men, pre-owned fashion, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
March is here and it’s officially spring, so it’s time to inject more colour into that winter weary wardrobe! It’s still cold, however, and most of us are not quite ready to abandon the comfort of cardis and jumpers.
This week we are promoting that perennially popular wardrobe staple, the humble cardigan, and bringing you a selection of the finest colourful but cosy cardis from The Frockery catalogue. How about this this fab teal cardigan from Fat Face - or maybe you prefer fuchsia, lilac, red or the luxury of Burberry wool?
Print is also making a dramatic entrance this season to help clear these cold weather cobwebs and is a strong theme in everything from coats and dresses to knitwear and shoes. We are especially liking this striking black and red floral print dress.
Tags: cardigans, frockery, spring fashion, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Monday, February 16th, 2009
Brrrr, it’s still freezing here but life is getting back to normal after several days of living in snowman’s land. We are grateful to Royal Mail and our courier services who have continued to serve us well during the big freeze and we have been busy supplying our customers with jumpers, coats and hats to beat the continuing winter chill.
According to the weekend news, the 80s are making a big comeback, which is probably a timely antidote to all the doom and gloom since 80s fashion can’t fail to bring a smile to everyone’s face! Our latest stock selection is certainly full of 80s promise.
Look out for more warm woolly arrivals over the next day or two, including hand knitted and Pringle numbers, as well as a some fab coats, both vintage and contemporary. New arrivals include a Paddy Campbell two piece, a Karl Lagerfeld 80s skirt suit and a good selection of vintage boots and shoes.
Tags: 80s fashion, frockery, snow, update
Posted in Fashion, General, Online Shopping | No Comments »
Monday, February 2nd, 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.
Tags: budget fashion, frockery, penny lane, slow fashion
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Monday, July 7th, 2008
Louis Féraud was born in the southern French town of Arles in 1921 and opened his first boutique in Cannes in 1950.
When, in 1955, Brigitte Bardot visited his shop with the paparazzi in hot pursuit and bought a white sundress, the rest of Cote d’Azur elite immediately flocked to buy his clothes, assuring his success as a designer.
By the mid 1950s he had established a couture house in Paris, designing for Bardot and other film stars such as Ingrid Bergman and Kim Novak, and he presented his first haute couture collection Paris in 1958.
Féraud subsequently hired up and coming designers Jean-Louis Scherrer and Per Spook, going from strength to strength throughout the 60s and signing up with Fink of Germany in 1970 to design a ladies’ prêt-à-porter collection.
“Fashion is not created to separate people but to bring them together; it is a rendezvous of love,” he famously declared. His aim, he said, was always “to please women”, and he invariably succeeded with his sophisticated designs and fine French tailoring, coining the slogan “Louis Féraud adore les femmes”.
An accomplished fine artist as well as a designer, Féraud was heavily influenced by his colourful Provencal roots and he continued to paint throughout his life, exhibiting in Europe and the USA. He also created a number of perfumes.
Féraud twice won the ‘Golden Thimble Award’ for his haute couture collections in 1978 and 1984, and his designs were favoured throughout the glamorous 80s by stars like Joan Collins in her ‘Dynasty’ role as Alexis Colby. In 1991, he was elected Prince de l’Art de Vivre and was made an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur in 1995 by the French President.
Following his retirement in 1995, the House of Féraud was run by his daughter Kiki until 1999, when it was acquired by the Dutch group Secon. Féraud died that same year at the age of 79, but his label, famous for its elegance and sophistication, continues to delight new generations of women from across the globe.
Just as “Féraud adore les femmes”, it is undoubtedly still the case that “les femmes adorent Féraud”. The Frockery does too and we can never resist this particular label.
Tags: Louis Feraud
Posted in Designers, Fashion, Frockery Focus | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008
Fast Fashion is something the men in our lives do well.
They enter a shop, usually the first one they come to, look quickly through the rails until they find the type of garment they need in what they consider to be an inoffensive style/colour and in their size, pay quickly (sometimes muttering “how much?” under their breath) and leave.
None of the “does my bum look big in this?”, or wasting time and effort trying things on, let alone making a considered decision as to what might suit them. It’s simply a chore that has to be completed as painlessly as possible when their best jumper gets felted or all their shirts have turned a murky shade of pink after they have inadvertently left a red sock in the washing machine.
It can of course be worse when they make a determined effort to be fashionable and their ‘trying too hard’ results are in evidence on high streets everywhere. Unlike the majority of women, however, they don’t lack confidence and have far fewer hang ups about the way they look, which can only be good.
With apologies to all the many fashionable and style conscious men out there, some of whom shop at The Frockery!
Tags: fast fashion, Men
Posted in Fashion, Men | No Comments »
Thursday, May 15th, 2008
“You can’t go wrong!”, exclaimed Lorraine Kelly on GMTV this morning, positively salivating over a white tiered dress from trash fashion outlet Primark costing just £9. Her male stylist sidekick, who was smugly showcasing it as ‘Primarni’, naturally nodded in simpering agreement.
Just when we thought the media sentiment was turning – and it seems to be thus over at the BBC, whose online magazine Thread actively promotes ethical and sustainable style - LK has to go and spoil it all by encouraging us to pick up a cheap frock at a fast fashion joint before jetting off on our summer holidays without a care in the world and, clearly, without a care for the world.
Lorraine isn’t the only journalist who is promoting cheap-as-chips fashion one minute and bemoaning the environmental impact of transporting goods halfway round the world the next, all the while sympathising with the plight of overseas workers, many of them children, who are paid a pittance for their labour. These issues are all inextricably linked, and as long as we continue to support an industry which is founded upon the exploitation of both people and planet, we are all very much part of the problem.
Tags: budget fashion, eco-style, ethical fashion, fast fashion, green fashion, media, sustainable
Posted in budget fashion, Environment, ethical fashion, Fashion, green fashion | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008
Yes, the end is nigh for disposable ‘trash’ fashion. Well, it must be true if the BBC are telling us that cheap chic (an oxymoron if ever there was one) is on the way out. Have they been reading our blog, we wonder?
For the past decade or so, fast ‘fad’ fashion has dominated the high streets and supermarket aisles. A new t-shirt costs less than a bottle of wine, with the result that binge buying of cheap clothes has become something of a national pastime. Meanwhile, consumers have been largely content to enjoy the fruits of someone else’s exploited labour, or else remain blissfully ignorant of the workings of the global economy.
However, there is evidence to suggest that the trash fashion trend may be stalling. Rocketing oil prices are taking their toll on the all important bottom line, which means an inevitable increase in the price of throwaway clothing for the consumer. Let’s face it, garment prices couldn’t come down any further without becoming ‘giveaway’ fashion!
The credit crunch is now biting households hard across the country, which has meant a sudden and significant rise in the cost of living. As we all struggle to meet the escalating costs of life’s necessities like food, fuel and mortgage payments, we are becoming far more discerning consumers. Increasingly, we are looking for best value based on quality rather than price alone, all of which adds up to more bad news for the fast fashion industry.
There are also signs that the mass media’s love affair with ‘fast’ culture is coming to an end. Even the BBC are now acquainting consumers with the reality of how and by whom these cheap garments are produced and how far they have to travel to reach our high streets and supermarkets. All so that we can wear them once (or not at all) and throw them away. We reckon it amounts to collective insanity.
In reality, there is no need to stay a fast fashion clone when you can so easily and affordably set your own style with the textiles that are already in circulation. We are delighted that the BBC and style gurus everywhere are at last catching up with what we’ve known all along. It is heartening to see them embracing The Frockery’s own eco-fashion tips with such enthusiasm!
Tags: budget fashion, ethical fashion, fast fashion, green fashion, sustainable, textiles waste
Posted in budget fashion, eco-style, Environment, ethical fashion, Fashion, green fashion, recycled fashion | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 21st, 2008
We are becoming increasingly fed up of living in a society which seems hell bent on creating ever greater mountains of unnecessary waste. From plastic bags in their billions to fast food packaging, cheap promotional items that no one wants or needs, and even shrink wrap covering for supermarket cucumbers, we are drowning in the stuff.
Textiles waste is a particular bugbear of ours. Did you know that in the UK alone, we throw out in excess of one million tonnes of textiles every year, most of which ends up in landfill sites?
Far from being harmless holes in the ground where we can conveniently bury anything and everything we no longer want, landfill sites cause significant environmental damage. In the case of landfilled textiles, garment dyes and bleaches can cause toxic chemical seepage into the ground and water courses. As the material decomposes, the build up of methane gas presents further hazards.
Although environnmental issues have been gradually nudging their way up the political agenda, there is no evidence that our throwaway society is ready to take responsibility for its wasteful behaviour. We need a sea change in attitude and, while there is some great work being done to reduce textiles waste through reuse and recycling, the clothing industry remains awash with cheap ‘fast’ fashion which is likely to end up in landfill in a matter of months if not weeks.
So how can we as concerned individuals make a difference yet still stay stylish (and solvent!)? Well, we have put together a list of simple ‘RE’ ACTIONS to the relentless pressures of the fast fashion industry, and we hope the following top ten tips on working towards a greener wardrobe will be useful for waste aware, eco-friendly fashionistas like ourselves.
The Frockery’s Top 10 eco-fashion ‘RE’ actions
1. RESIST temptation. Don’t buy it if you don’t need it! Your wardrobe is probably already bulging with impulse buys, many of which you have never worn, so you know it makes sense.
2. REJECT fast fashion outlets and cheap imports which have been transported halfway round the world, may have been produced by an exploited workforce, including child labour, in dangerous conditions, and will probably fall apart after one wash.
3. RETHINK your buying habits. Support ethical, fair trade businesses and ‘home grown’ designers.
4. REUSE clothing and accessories. Buy from vintage, second hand or charity shops, car boot sales and auction websites – or swap clothes with friends
5. REDISCOVER the back of your wardrobe and the darkest corners of your attic which may well harbour some long forgotten outfits that are yearning for a new lease of life.
6. RESTYLE your current wardrobe. Get the sewing box out, refashion a dress into a top and matching bag, add a few embellishments, chop off some sleeves, or just shorten a hemline or two.
7. REFRESH your ‘old’ clothes by adding belts, scarves and complementary accessories for an instant style update.
8. RECYCLE the clothing you no longer need. Drop it off at your local textile recycling bank, freecycle it, or else donate to charity.
9. RESELL your unwanted clothes on one of the internet auction sites or, if you don’t want to do it yourself, through a local or online dress agency.
10. RESEARCH environmentally friendly fashion alternatives which combine style with sustainability. We recommend Kate Fletcher’s Lifetimes project as a great starting point for both information and inspiration.
Tags: eco-fashion, Environment, Fashion, green fashion, preloved clothing, recycling, textiles, waste
Posted in eco-style, Environment, Fashion, green fashion, recycling | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008
The credit crunch is taking its toll on household budgets everywhere as the cost of living continues to soar, with upwardly mobile mortgage payments, escalating fuel prices and public transport fares making ever greater demands on all our disposable incomes. Meanwhile, as the credit card bills continue to roll in as regular reminders of our buy now, pay later festive spending activities, it’s time to take firm financial action if we are to get back on budget.
In the depths of winter, however, we all need a few little indulgences to help us beat the cold weather blues and there is nothing like a new (or nearly new) fashion look to make us feel like the million dollars we don’t have! Fortunately for frugal fashionistas, The Frockery specialises in the sort of fashion which suits small budgets and, literally, doesn’t cost the earth. We endeavour to bring our customers the very best in pre-loved apparel, from vintage and retro fashion to top quality contemporary labels which have been worn only once or twice or sometimes not at all.
The Frockery motto is simple: why buy new when it is more fashionable, frugal and eco-friendly to go retro?
As veteran collectors, buyers and sellers of pre-owned, vintage and retro clothing and accessories from eras gone by, mainly the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, The Frockery team are big fans of the ‘slow fashion’ genre which celebrates sustainability and ethical elegance as opposed to the disposable fast fashion clone culture which dominates today’s high streets.
London Fashion Week has once again demonstrated that designers are continuing to borrow from the past for inspiration and we can all take a leaf out of their style files. There is no need to spend a fortune on the latest fashion trends when these are so often derived from bygone eras and you can adapt, reinvent and accessorise items from the back of your own wardrobe for next to nothing. Failing that, come and have a browse through The Frockery virtual rails for some affordable vintage fashion – or else just some good old fashioned inspiration!
Tags: budget fashion, ethical fashion, fashion designers, living lightly, London Fashion Week, retro clothing, slow fashion, vintage clothing
Posted in budget fashion, eco-style, Environment, ethical fashion, Fashion, green fashion, Online Shopping, pre-owned fashion, retro clothing, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Sunday, February 3rd, 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).
An array of unique and exciting designs from 3rd year undergraduate textiles students (including The Frockery’s very own Kirstin) will once again be showcased at this prestigious annual fashion event! For more information, visit the GSA Fashion Show’s MySpace.
Tags: design, fashion show, Glasgow, Glasgow School of Art, textiles
Posted in Designers, Fashion, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008
It has been a case of ‘frocks around the clock’ since the turn of the year as The Frockery has been coping with an increase in orders from customers new and not-so-new. Vintage and retro party dresses have been in particular demand throughout January and many of our own favourites have found new appreciative homes.
Meanwhile, there is evidence of some serious green resolutions being made and kept by a number of our customers who are moving house, downsizing or just having a good clear-out. This has resulted in The Frockery taking delivery of some fabulous pieces for our catalogue, so look out especially for the arrival of some glam 80s frockery which would have had Joan Collins and Victoria Principal tearing each other’s hair out over back in the good old days of Dynasty and Dallas!
The 80s look certainly seems to be enjoying something of a revival among the younger set, who are once more embracing shoulder pads and over-the-top statement outfits like we all used to (without even a hint of embarrassment!) Frank Usher dresses are endlessly appealing for posh parties and proms and the more colourful and dramatic the better!
Vintage and retro themed parties appear to be gaining in popularity and The Frockery has recently helped dress a newly 40 year old for her 1960s themed birthday party, as well as a newly 50 year old who wanted a memorable 1950s look for her half century celebration. Meanwhile, one of our younger fashionistas stuck to a 1980s theme for her 21st birthday party when she and her friends got fully into the spirit of the era, ably assisted by The Frockery team, a supply of sparkling wine, some retro fashion magazines and an original December 1986 copy of Vogue.
Still on the subject of vintage themed events, we have also just had notice of the dates for this year’s Culzean Autoclassica international heritage motoring event in Ayrshire which will be another great opportunity to dress up in period costume from the 40s, 50s, 60s or 70s to reflect a particular transport era. Billed as Scotland’s equivalent to the Goodwood Revival weekend, it promises to be a fantastic event for all the family and will take place at Culzean Castle, Maybole, Ayrshire from Thursday 21st to Monday 25th August 2008.
Tags: 60s fashion, 80s fashion, 80s style, auto heritage, autoheritage, dress agency, frank usher, pre-owned fashion, re-enactment, retro clothing, retro themes, themed events, vintage clothing
Posted in Fashion, green fashion, Nostalgia, Online Shopping, pre-owned fashion, re-enactment, recycled fashion, retro clothing, themed parties, Uncategorized, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008
In 1966, at the age of only 22, newly married and with just £50 of capital behind her, Glasgow designer Marion Donaldson created a new and exciting fashion label which was to have a profound and lasting influence and which has since been widely credited as bringing the mood of Carnaby Street and the Swinging 60s to Glasgow and Scotland.
Specialising in one-off mini skirts and dresses, Marion and her husband David quickly took the fashion world by storm. Contrary to popular belief, they never had their own shop but began selling their clothes wholesale to Glasgow’s first fashion boutique, In Gear, and Aquarius on Byres Road, soon graduating to Fenwick’s of London. A subsequent partnership with Liberty’s of Regent Street led to a rapid expansion and the production of Marion’s best known ‘signature’ dresses in fabulous Liberty fabrics.
The company’s turnover quickly grew, but while the customer base was widely spread throughout the UK, the design and manufacturing elements remained Glasgow-based.
The company’s iconic art nouveau label was originally inspired by an oval mirror which the Donaldsons bought at auction and remains instantly recognisable in all of their garments. Initially printed purple on white in the 60s, it changed to brown on cream, then gold on purple and finally became silver on black.
Marion Donaldson Ltd traded from 1966 until 1999, but her garments have a timeless charm and quality and remain immensely popular, both for everyday wear and collecting.
The Glasgow Museum of Transport is currently creating a display of family snapshots about 60s fashion with a particular focus on the work of Marion Donaldson as she is recognised as being such an important design influence. According to curator Kate Tansley, ”The popularity of the Marion Donaldson label reflects the mood of Glasgow at that time, and hopefully the photographs will help visitors travel back in time to the 1960s.” For more details of the project and exhibition, visit the Museum’s website.
The Frockery can never resist a Marion Donaldson piece and we have a selection currently in stock.
Tags: Glasgow, Marion Donaldson
Posted in Designers, Fashion, Frockery Focus | No Comments »
Saturday, December 29th, 2007
The Frockery team are back to business after two days of turkey (and vegetarian alternative) consumption, but we are already planning to enter into the spirit of Hogmanay and a new year next week. In Scotland we celebrate for longer than those south of the border and so will be closed on New Year’s Day and 2nd January, but customers can of course still place orders at any time.
Christmas for us was a time to stop, relax and recharge the batteries after a busy year with scarcely any respite, especially as the festive season approached. Party frocks in particular were flying off the rails until the last possible posting date (and beyond), but the most sought after item this year was a cute retro reindeer sweater, of which we only had one and which very quickly found a loving new home.
Since we re-opened for business on 27th December, we have had an increase in visitors and our stats tell us that, even on Christmas Day, we had 58 intrepid fashionistas surfing through our frocks! Having braved Glasgow city centre the other day during the sales, we can happily say that online shopping remains our own preferred method of buying goods and services. It’s not only easier on the pocket and the planet – it also helps preserve one’s sanity!
As 2007 draws to a close, we would like to thank our customers for shopping with us. We have got to know some lovely people over this past year and really appreciate their feedback, which tells us that, despite postal strikes and occasional delayed or missing parcels, we have usually managed to get things right.
Our first Frockery fashion challenge proved a great success and we are hoping to repeat it in 2008. We also have a few surprises up our vintage and retro fashion sleeves, so keep dropping by for the latest Frockery news.
Tags: budget fashion, Christmas, retro clothing, vintage clothing
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Friday, November 30th, 2007
Here at The Frockery we just love the classic little black dress, and the female members of our team all have one or two classic LBDs in their own wardrobes.
So we were delighted to hear of the new Little Black Dress Exhibition which is to run at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery from December 2007 until 1 June 2008. Not only will it feature couturier and celebrity owned garments, but it will also include exhibits from the wardrobes of local women.
The little black dress – now known universally by that three letter acronym LBD – is a versatile and timeless classic which can be dressed up or down and worn by women of all ages no matter what the occasion. From breakfast at Tiffany’s, through a day at the office and on to the wine bar in the evening, it will never let you down!
The LBD first came to prominence in 1926 when Coco Chanel succeeded in bringing black – previously relegated to funeral attire – into the fashion mainstream with a feminine new creation which was quickly adopted by Vogue and has been celebrated by fashionistas ever since.
The LBD’s appeal is truly universal, and while its various incarnations have made headlines over the decades for fashion icons such as Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Hurley and the late Princess of Wales, its magic somehow manages to make ordinary women look and feel special.
Tags: Audrey Hepburn, budget fashion, Coco Chanel, costume exhibitions, LBD, little black dress, vintage clothing, vogue
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Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
It is fitting that, for the first of our Frockery Focus pieces, we should feature the glittering career of Canadian designer, Joseph Ribkoff , who this month (November 2007) celebrated 50 golden years in the fashion industry.
This memorable milestone was formally marked at the 2007 Montreal Fashion and Design Festival where Ribkoff was held up as “a pillar of the fashion industry, both at home and abroad, who has been serving femininity for more than 50 years.”
The now global fashion label started from fairly humble beginnings in Dorval, Quebec, in 1957, when the loss of his job at a local fashion house prompted the young, newly married Joseph Ribkoff to launch his own business venture. Later he would joke that he only started his own business “to avoid getting fired again!”
With a natural flair for fashion and a keen instinct for business, Ribkoff started as he was to go on, creating stunning top-end statement designs, while providing unrivalled customer service and successfully meeting the challenges of changing market conditions over half a century. He has never looked back, declaring his clothes to be for women who unashamedly want to stand out from the crowd.
Ever popular with discerning fashionistas the world over, Joseph Ribkoff pieces are, without exception, beautiful creations with an undoubted wow factor, as these examples from The Frockery catalogue demonstrate.
Tags: Joseph Ribkoff
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Monday, October 29th, 2007
We have had lots of great customer feedback over the past few weeks (thank you all!) and are now working on a few new ideas to improve The Frockery shopping experience for the many vintage and retro clothing fans out there, as well as for those who are simply looking for pre-owned contemporary pieces that will neither break the bank nor cost the earth.
A ‘search by size’ function is planned, and we have also received requests for a wider selection of ladies clothes which are bigger than a size 14. Since retro and vintage clothes tend to be on the small, if not tiny, side (as we were all a lot smaller back then) it is often more difficult to source larger sizes from past decades, but we are certainly on the case! Meanwhile, we have a few larger size posh frocks in stock, such as this black and gold glitzy party dress, which is sure to turn heads over the festive season and beyond.
Tags: budget fashion, eco-style, plus size fashion, pre-owned clothing, recycled fashion, recycling, retro clothing, vintage clothing
Posted in budget fashion, Environment, Online Shopping, recycling, retro clothing, vintage clothing | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
The Frockery has launched its first Fifty Quid Fashion Challenge in which its website visitors are being asked to put together a stylish look for a given occasion for £50 or less.
Challengers are being invited to submit an entry to one or both of the following categories: an outfit for a office based job interview; a festive party outfit. Entrants are also being asked to state in no more than 20 words why their chosen outfit deserves to win the Frockery Fifty Quid Challenge.
The closing date for completed challenges is 30 November 2007 and the winner of each category will receive goods of their choice from The Frockery website to the value of £50, with one runner up from each category receiving goods to the value of £25.
With the extra financial demands of the festive season now looming, dedicated fashionistas still want to look chic, but preferably without breaking the bank. We hope the Frockery Fifty Quid Fashion Challenge will help more people realise that you can dress for less, yet still stay stylish.
The Frockery offers an affordable and sustainable alternative for style conscious and environmentally aware consumers who neither want to max out their credit cards on expensive designer labels nor settle for same and soulless ‘fast’ fashion.
Recycling fashion makes perfect sense from the point of view of both the planet and the wallet. At The Frockery, we take great pleasure in finding new appreciative owners for pre-loved quality clothing and accessories and we want to remind people that looking stylish need not cost the earth.
Tags: budget fashion, Competitions, ethical fashion, fashion recycling, green fashion, pre-owned clothing, recycling, retro, retro clothing, vintage, vintage clothing
Posted in budget fashion, Competitions, eco-style, Environment, green fashion, Online Shopping, recycling, retro clothing, vintage clothing | 2 Comments »
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