The Doors – Love Street
November 17, 2011
People have told me countless times that I’m, “A bit of a hippie at heart”. The thing is, I never, ever really thought that myself.
It’s taken me over thirty years – and one moment this morning while waiting on a train, dressed in a paisley print dress; agate slice pendants looped around my neck; suede booties; a faux fur coat – with Jim Morrison’s dulcet tones seducing me to realise… “You know what? I really am I hippie at heart…and I honestly couldn’t be happier about it.”
Today’s pick from TTSS’s private collection
October 15, 2011
Vintage Wool Coat
…available to buy at the Vintage Event, Balham TODAY!
Today’s pick from Roamkix
October 14, 2011
Navy Ditsy Floral Shift
…available to buy this Saturday at the Vintage Event, Balham (or if you can’t wait, here!)
Today’s pick from TTSS’s private collection
October 13, 2011
White Vintage Heels
…available to buy this Saturday at the Vintage Event, Balham.
Roamkix & TTSS at The Balham Vintage Event (this Saturday!)
October 11, 2011
Incase you haven’t caught wind already, Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Sailor will be teaming up with vintage experts Roamkix at The Balham Vintage Event this Saturday.
Together we’ll be setting up our wares (including a gorgeous lemon yellow winter coat and many more one-of-a-kind finds) at Balham’s Bowling Club.
We’ll be there from 12 – 6pm so come join us for a natter, a couple of shandies and a slice of homemade cake, plus the chance to shop Roamkix’s collection that’s sourced from Paris, London, Ireland and plenty of other fashion capitals. Alongside Roamkix’s offerings, you’ll also have the rare opportunity to shop from our own (Tinker-Tailor-Soldier-Sailor’s) private vintage collection.
The fun doesn’t stop there either – ahead of the big day we’ll be posting a preview of our favourite pieces right here. Then on Saturday, they’ll all be up for grabs. Keep your eyes peeled!
Roamkix & soldiersailor x
The Vintage Event at Balham Bowls Club
August 14, 2011
As the sun shines and Londoners put the riots to the back of their minds, today was a day of celebration for all – at least in Balham, where the Vintage Event came to town.
The event is organised by a mother and daughter duo and plotted itself up in the most perfect of locations; the long established Balham Bowls Club.
On stepping into the fair, the amount of dresses, handbags and all manner of accessories from yesteryear were somewhat overwhelming. It was hard not to feel a surge of excitement at the thought of all the wonderful discoveries ahead. At first glance, the Vintage Event was nothing but paradise – where was I to start?!
After flitting between dress and delicious-looking tea and cake stalls, I had already fallen in love with gowns galore and eyed-up a carrot cake to die for.
Settling on a purchase of a 70s leather coin purse and 30s negligee for an impressive £8, I left feeling thrilled (having stuffed my face with said delicious carrot cake, baked by Mother’s Ruin). Thanks to the Vintage Event, the retro lover can find beautiful, genuine vintage pieces so easily in a time when it’s becoming much harder to find a gem within the rubble.
Of course, it’s even better that they’re delivering all this practically to my doorstep, and at refreshingly affordable prices too. Roll on next month’s event!
Letters from the past
July 2, 2011
Thirty minutes with MINT Vintage’s James Wright
May 27, 2011
Meet James. He’s a fan of nipple tassels, relishes the opportunity to dress like a 90′s drug dealer, and is the man behind the vintage wonderland that is MINT Vintage in Covent Garden, London. Nothing short of a captivating character, we couldn’t help but indulge both him, and ourselves, by spending a bit of time getting to know him, what he’s loving right now and exactly what you should be, too.
Every time I pop in to see you, you’re wearing something entirely different. How would you describe your personal style?
I really do not have a style. I love to get dressed up and have a different look on every week. I could show you an image from three years ago with a Mohican and in the last 12 months I’ve started to wear a suit. Three-piece suits are great things to wear and everything I wear is vintage. I do like to change my style all the time as I think that’s the whole point of clothes – to have a bit of fun with them. I’m definitely not a 40s, 50s, 60s, 80s or whatever. Last week I dressed up like a 90’s drug dealer with a tracksuit on – I think they [the team] were all laughing at me but I thought it was really cool as it was Pierre Cardin who’s making a big comeback.
So if you’re not a 40s, 50s or 60s man, what does that mean you’re into when it comes to music?
I like to hear good music from today. We have an open forum in the shop where everyone can play what they want. If it gets on the other person’s nerves, it’s probably gonna get on the customers nerves so we switch it off. It was Bob Dylan’s birthday this week so we played Bob Dylan for half a day. I personally like new folk, the new folk generation; The XX and First Aid Kit [Scandinavian folk duo], Ray LaMontagne – all that, it’s great. When I was in my youth I was really into a bit of folk, when I was travelling I was a bit of a hippy but then I really like the Jam, conscious dub, old-school conscious reggae. It changes – I’ll maybe listen to an hour of classic FM if I go home tonight and I’ve got 2000 vinyl records in my front from from 1968 to 1989 which I still play.
If you don’t go home tonight, where are we likely to find you? When did you last have a night out?
When did I last have a night out? Oh yeah, I went to a went to Madame Jo Jos in Soho. Great night out. Another good night is on Thursday’s at Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues. Soho’s on my doorstep so I finish work and head there. I’ll go anywhere for a good night out. Torture Garden’s a great night out too, I’m straight and not in to fetish, but it’s really a top night out, with good music and nipple tassels.
What about festivals? Have you any plans to get to some this summer?
I find it hard to recover after indulging and equally, I find it hard to hold back. I hope to go to get to some smaller, low-key ones. Getting stoned in a field is really appealing today, actually. I’m not into raging anymore but I suppose a little toe in the water every now and again doesn’t do anyone any harm. As the owner of the Groucho [the famous club in London] once said, “Nothing good ever comes from staying awake after 3am in the morning.”
What one item should a clubber not be without this summer?
A string vest and you need some good screens if you’re clubbing. You need your phone to get the ammunition in, unless you can use carrier pigeons.
What trend do you think is going to be massive this season?
I think it’ll be Fresh Prince of Bel Air meets late 70′s Harlem, meets Run DMC, meets Harlem Globe Trotters, meets Grand Master Flash. That was revisited in the 90s but it was actually very 70s in the first chapter, then it went onto rave in the 90s and now, we’re ready for it again. It’s like another new rave. Kids into new rave, kids are into getting as fucked up as they’ve ever been fucked up, you know? Every generation wants to be more fucked up than the last one and they think that Special K was a mistake when we all took it, we didn’t really know, but now they’re actually loving Ketamine because it’s really fucked up – they like really getting really messed up. Messed up is good, but I want to highten my awareness, not dampen it down. The new rave will always come again but the retro-rave will always be the thing.
For anyone who wants to try the new rave look out, what pieces do you recommend they go for?
Big gold, sportswear and early streetwear. High-tops and costume jewellery, meets bright colours, geometric, skinny jeans, white, silk printed bomber jackets, double denim and trainers.
With thanks to James and Lauren.
A crafty lady named Messy Jesse
October 16, 2010
In the Eco Office, it would seem we’re a bit of a creative bunch. Between us, we have photographers, writers, bloggers, musicians and even a gymnast! The most common pastime, however, would appear to be that good old fashioned skill – sewing.
One of our in-house seamstresses is Messy Jesse, a lovely bubbly little lady who’s addicted to vintage-inspired prints and fabrics. She devotes a good part of her spare time (and a whole room in her house) to her beloved hobby, where she makes everything from purses and knitting needle organisers to the adorable chick print purse below which she’s just given me as the sweetest little gift.
Possibly the impromptu generosity was inspired after I had given Miss Jessie a heap of brand new printed fabric, which had been sitting waiting in my house for such a long time, desperate for a use. Needless to say Jessie was overjoyed at the bundle of patterns bestowed upon her, and has already made some delightful little coasters which you can buy in her Etsy shop, along with some other great ideas that are perfect for getting a head start on your Christmas shopping.
For those of you not quite on the hunt for gifts just quite yet, but still with a craving for crafts, you can check out little miss Jessie’s pretty and ultra-practical tip-filled blog here.
Downpours and inventions at Vintage Goodwood
August 18, 2010
On Friday afternoon, after a few back seat beers and cheesy poofs, we arrived at Vintage Goodwood just in time for the heavens to open, as if on command and right as we began to pitch our tents. Thankfully, the boys became men (momentarily at least) and allowed us ladies to saunter off in the rain in search of yesteryear’s treasures.
With a bit of careful footing through the mud, we reached the main event where everyone from The Body Shop to Oxfam had created pop-up shops on the festivals retro ‘high-street’. In Oxfam we discovered rails set out by decade which were home to everything from 70s chic chiffon maxi dresses to 50s rockabilly skirts. The prices may have been a little high, but still affordable should you have fallen head over heels with one of the many special pieces.
After the outburst of “There’s hundred’s of vintage stalls over there!” from one of the boys upon their return, we naturally made an instinctual diversion from the high-street like lions chasing gazelle. While his numbers may have been somewhat overstated, we certainly did find some amazing stands where we promptly lost a good few hours and emptied our already well-worn wallets.
One-of-a-kind fashion aside, we played on the vintage cars and scooters like both children and pin-ups (see below). We were also lucky enough to get backstage dressing room passes and got to check out where rock legends Faces got ready for their first performance together in 25 years. As Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagan, Mick Hucknall and Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock walked past us, heading towards the stage, we traced their footsteps. However, on arrival at the rear of the main stage, we were quick to decide that for us, it was right in the thick of the crowd that was the only place to be.
Just before laying our heads to rest after a jolly good day, my fellow tent sharer, upon expressing how he could never find anything in his jacket exclaimed; “Wouldn’t it be good if you just had one really big pocket?” To which I responded; “Yeah, with a strap?” His reply; “What, like a bag?!” Had it not been for the fact that we had been long been beaten to it with such an invention (and the copious amounts of vodka, whisky and beer consumed) I could have sworn we were onto something…
Crowd pleasers - vintage fashionistas spotted at Goodwood
Polka dots and pin-ups
Smoking smock
Where fairytales are made
Wayne Hemmingway, promising sunshine from 5.30pm onwards
From the farm
shaggin' wagon?
Original up-dos
One true diva
A stitch in time
