We are big fans of Burberrys here at the Frockery with a selection of trench coats and raincoats from various eras in our personal collection, as well as a few pieces of cashmere. Just occasionally we have to have a cull as our wardrobe walls are not made of rubber and we have to make space for 'new' pieces. We are initiating one such cull this spring before things get out of hand!

This Burberrys bright red 'Bosbury' trench coat /rain coat dates from the 80s and has been in the chief frocker's wardrobe for far too long. It was destined for her frocker daughter, but it was too big for her as a Burberrys size UK8 (long) and will comfortably fit up to a UK12.  So we are now offering it for sale in the Frockery catalogue priced at £220. Buy it here!

The single breasted coat is unworn, comes on its original Burberrys branded hanger, with original shop tags and even its original polythene cover, also with Burberrys branding. It has a self belt with leather buckle and the usual quality Burberrys features. Not only that, it comes complete with warm zip in/out nova check lining.  Perfect for year round timeless classic style!

Get ready to frock, folks! The third annual Frockery Eco-Fashion Challenge is fast approaching and will run throughout the month of February 2013 when we will once again vaunt the vintage, rock the retro and celebrate the second hand, recycled and hand made.

Our inaugural challenge was held in 2011 as a fun way of combating the February blues while giant snowdrifts brought the country to a virtual standstill. It was such fun that we repeated it last year and decided to turn it into an annual slow fashion event. The 'rules' are simple and few, so why not come and join us for our 2013 frock-up?

Frockery February Eco-Fashion Challenge 2013

In celebration of hand made, vintage, retro and recycled, we are once again encouraging friends, fans and followers to take part in our February eco-fashion challenge during the shortest, darkest and most depressingly bill-filled month of the year.

The rules are simple

Aim to wear clothing and accessories which are hand made, vintage, recycled or second hand during February and post your pictures, outfit descriptions, sources and costs on the Frockery Facebook Group which has been revived for the purpose (it's a closed group but just send a join request as Alison and Arthur Frocker are getting lonely there!) Alternatively you can post on the Frockery Facebook page or on our Twitter feed (using the #frockerychallenge hashtag so we don't miss it). If all else fails, just email us directly and we'll post for you! You can showcase as many or as few outfits as you like over the course of the month.

Pics mean prizes

Frockery to the value of £100 for the winner and £50 for the runner up will go to the posters of the most stylish and creative (in our judges' opnion) eco-fashionable ensembles at the end of the challenge.

So come on everybody, let's frock again like we did last Feb'ry!

As the end of the academic session approaches (or is already upon us here in Scotland), we have been receiving an increasing number of enquiries from young ladies, young men (and sometimes their mums!) looking for the perfect preloved or vintage prom wear.

The school prom - an event imported from the USA which has largely replaced the humble end of term dance or disco - is now big business with more than a little competition among prom goers determined to push the boat out (or should that be stretch limo,  helicopter or tractor?) in a bid to outshine their peers in true Big Fat Gypsy Wedding style.

Of course it is fun to get dressed up in your finery, and what better excuse  to celebrate such an important  milestone in your life, but it is quite staggering to learn from Marie Claire that prom nights are now an £80m industry in the UK. And as the girls featured in this article testify, peer pressure is an irresistible force. So much for austerity!

Prom dresses need not cost a fortune, however, especially if they are preloved; and if they are vintage, so much the better as they will most likely be unique one-offs that nobody else will have. Needless to say we have a selection in our catalogue and most are under £50, so why not  take a look before splashing lots of cash.

 50s vintage dusky pink prom gown

50s inspired rockabilly style floral summer prom dress

John Charles 70s vintage prom dress

50s vintage black prom gown

60s Jackie Kennedy Mad Men style pink prom dress

And don't forget the accessories!

Vintage pink ruched gloves

Vintage black Dita starlet shoes

Floral needlepoint evening purse

Black and silver reversible evening stole

We also have a smaller selection of menswear including tuxedo shirts, bow ties and cummerbunds.

To all those celebrating the end of their school years, enjoy your prom!  We wish you all well for the future and would urge you to save both the planet and your wallet in style by adopting our favourite mantra on your journey through life.

Why buy new when it's more fashionable, frugal and eco-friendly to go retro?

Get the Cyndi Lauper look in this gorgeous vintage1950s tutu style ballerina prom dress by John Selby of London.

The boned bodice is in iridescent purple with an overlayer of navy net dotted with gold. It has purple shoulder straps and pleated front detail with six metallic décor buttons. It is fitted to the waist with a full skirt of navy and gold dotted net over purple, interlayered with tulle. It fastens at the back with a metal zip.

It is a tiny size, which doesn't zip up on our mannequin, and we have estimated it as a contemporary UK6 with a 32" bust and (up to) 26" waist.

There are a couple of tiny tears to the net which are only noticeable on close inspection and do not detract from the wearability of this darling dress which is well over 50 years old and ready for the prom!

Now available for sale in the Frockery shop!

We do love vintage hats and have found them to be popular purchases at vintage fairs, as well as from our online shop (whence they are dispatched in often unconventional packaging, from cornflake cartons to biscuit tins!)

The various head topping pieces listed in our current catalogue represent but the tip of a much larger iceberg of old hattery which can be found at the Frockery, a selection of which is pictured below. Some of these pieces are for sale, some are for hire, some are used for styling, shows and photo shoots, and a few we just like to keep for ourselves.

 Meet Arabella, who has graced our antique sideboard for many years. Her current choice of hat is a vintage navy felt number with veil and fabulous feather flourish. Rather oversized for her small head, but we think it still suits her.

We even have a vintage wooden hat stretcher which has been mistaken, on more than one occasion, for a thumb-screwing instrument of torture. Occasionally we wonder what sort of reputation must precede us, but we can assure you we are entirely harmless, old hat loving frockers!

Who else, apart from the Frockers, remembers experiencing blue leg syndrome after sitting in the bath to shrink their Levi's to fit, then waiting for them to dry on the body? (Well it was the 70s!)

Several decades on, jeans remain a wardrobe staple for people of all ages, shapes and budgets and we have just added several pairs of  Levi 501s to the catalogue in blue, black and brown. You'll find them listed along with stretch denim and cord flares by Easy Jeans, some 70s high waisted wide leg trousers in green cotton and a pair of white and pink polka dot  Steilmann rockabilly style pants.

We have quite a few more pairs of jeans and trousers in the stock room which haven't quite made it on to the website yet, including a pair of black Max Mara stretch trousers, DKNY jeans, Firetrap black cords and some white high waisted jeans, so do keep an eye out for them.

And if you need cowboy boots to go with your jeans, we have it on good authority that RARA in Dundee has some genuine American vintage beauties in stock.

Meanwhile you can read how jeans conquered the world in this BBC article. We especially loved the 1920 letter to Levi Strauss reproduce in the article from a customer expressing disappointment that his jeans were falling apart after just three years of daily wear.

"Please find enclosed one pair of your overalls which I am sending you that the head of your fabric department may determine what is wrong. I purchased these from the Brayton Commercial Co of Wickenburg, Arizona, in the early part of 1917 and I have worn them every day except Sunday since that time and for some reason which I wish you would explain they have gone to pieces. I have worn nothing but Levi Strauss overalls for the past 30 years and this pair has not given me the service that I have got from some of your overalls in the past. I know that it is your aim to present a superior article on the market and consider it my duty to help you in any way I can. Please consider this and let me know if the fault is mine."