The naughty Naughties - Frock me!

I adore vintage clothes. I will probably go bankrupt before I give up on buying these little treasures from our history.

Of course I love antiques and art as well but I do not have an enormous, old mansion (yet) to put them in, so I like to think that vintage clothes, bags, gloves, hats and jewellery are far more practical. Well I think so anyway.

Of course I love vintage reproduction as well. I couldn't possibly afford an entirely vintage wardrobe just yet but I have to say I do feel such excitement when I find something so completely unique.

This has happened quite a lot recently. Ever since Beyond Retro opened it's doors in Brighton I have been circling back again and again like they have some kind of gravitational pull. They have one of the largest ranges of pre-1960s gear I've been able to find in Brighton and Bea deVile keeps laughing at me every time she pops around for tea and spots another yellow tag poking out of my clothing rail.

In December they had a Frock night, where they bring out hundreds of dresses from their stock in time for the Christmas parties, serve mulled wine and have a hairdresser and makeup artist doing vintage styles for the ladies who come to visit.

I had previously found an absolute gem there, spotted on the rail amongst the sequined dresses, which I used for the photo shoot with Nick Von Fiction in November. A teal sequined, full length gown with an open back and beaded sleeves and it fitted like a glove. I may have already mentioned it as I love it so very much. In any case it's the dress in the photo above.



The girls at the counter are always so sweet and often recognise me prowling the rails, sometimes asking if I have another show to go to and asking after Bea.

Well I was starting to feel the effects of the mulled wine and decided it was time to make an exit before I did some shameful impulse buying so I was on my way out when I spotted the most beautiful gown I've laid eyes on. A long champagne coloured, beaded gown, fitted down to the knee where it becomes a cloud of champagne tulle.

I paused...and looked. I knew it would fit me. But I was determined not to impulse buy so I left empty handed. Oh but how that put the fear of god into me! What if someone else took it?

I went back a few days later as soon as I got the chance, tried it on and bought it. It is now absolute pride of place in my wardrobe and I'm now imagining an act around it.

Now I just need to find the shoes and jewellery to match!

Which brings me aptly to a bit of news for February. I will just tease you with the details but it looks like I'll be a very romantic window display in London around a certain holiday...check back for details!

x Bella