The Only Way is Vintage

There were no promises broken, or lies told, when the good people of Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair guaranteed a beautiful selection of vintage clothes, shoes, handbags, hats, gloves, textiles & jewellery this Sunday. Housing all these wonderful pieces and their fabulous collectors was the equally glorious Old Finsbury Town Hall. The charm of this setting and all of its 1885 Art Noveau charm was enough alone to justify any trek through London Town on the greyest Sunday of the wonderful winter season. Given that the vintage artifacts were as impressive as their surroundings decorative features, made for a lovely and very atmospheric glimpse at the less commercial and genuinely honest side of vintage fashions, and its lovers. Think shift dresses, floral prints, hate it or love it fur fur fur, pea collars, lace trims and golden treasure. It did indeed feel only what I can imagine opening a treasure chest in a very old attic might have felt like. For those who fancied a cuppa and also suffered sweet tooth syndrome the tea rooms were the ultimate school hall experience.  For those who may have over indulged at the cake counter the alterations room was the next stop. With the most charming hairdressing set up just on the edge of the hallway the up do's being created and cemented with hairspray indeed ensured that the starlets and gentlemen at the Clerkenwell Vintage Fair received the ultimate experience. This was the last of these fairs before the end of the year, it certainly leaves something to look forward to in the new year.  

Text Katriona Flynn

Princess Grace

A fitting tribute to a truly remarkable lady. Actress, model, and of course delectable style icon Grace Patricia Kelly takes Centrex stage once more, this time at the Victoria and Albert Museum London. Commonly referred to as Princess Grace, after marrying the Prince of Morocco Grace Kelly was paramount in her role as 'her Serene Highness'. This collection gathers a magnificent array of the stars possessions from jewellery and hats to Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy, and Yves Saint Laurent gowns worn throughout Graces career. Her semblance, charm and magnetism meant that although she retired from the silver screen at 26, to dedicate her time solely to her duties in Morocco. She was still named by the American Film Institute as one of their top female stars in American cinema. She has film clips, photographs, and of course the Oscar statuette won by Kelly in 1954 are on show this exhibition, running until September 26th it should not be missed by those who loved Princess Grace and the allure of her style.

By Katriona Flynn