Top 5 Vintage Shops in York

This autumn I am planning a short trip to the UK. I will be going to York again and, naturally, I'm very excited to visit my old haunts. So I decided to post these lists of my favorite places to shop for vintage in York.

Bowler Vintage 
52 Fossgate

This is by far my favorite store of the lot. Not becasue it has the best wares, but becasue how stylish it is. Every time I'm there I just feel instantly glamorous. Even if I hadn't washed my hair and I'm wearing my lazy day jean, when I step over the threshold, I become Bette Davis or Norma Shearer. There are two floors to the store, first one is dedicated to men's fashions, and the second has a collection of modern repro clothing (they've got all the usual suspects with Hell Bunny, Collectif and Dancing Days by Banned) as well as vintage pieces. And the atmosphere is lovely - the store is bright, with a lovely old display that contains accessories, wooden chairs, low hanging lampshades and bag-scarf-hat combos decorating the shelves.

Dog & Bone Vintage 
28 Castlegate

While I love Bowler Vintage for the atmosphere, I love Dog & Bone for the stuff. And, boy, do they have some nice stuff! It's also two floors of shopping delight. The ground floor has men's clothes and lifestyle things - cards, games, cups and books. You need to go into the basement to see the women's clothes, and they have plenty. The lights are low and it's a lot more crammed, but they do have some of the best vintage dresses I have ever seen from blue chiffon prom dresses (perfect for cosplaying 1950s Cinderella) to delightful novelty prints cotton frocks that seem to be from the days of rationing.

The Flax & Twine 
20 Shambles

This is what I would call a bric-à-brac store. It has an assortment of the most wonderful things from old typewriters to parasols, from hats and purses to little brushes to remove crumbs from your dining table. I cannot recommend this place enough! You can spend your whole day there looking at little treasures and once you're tired of that, you can head to the second floor and take some tea with cake in their cafe. I am still very sad that I bough nothing there since the things were either too big or too brittle to transport them back home with me.

Expressions 
12 Walmgate

This store was on my regular to-visit list since it was right next to the bus stop that took me to the University. They mostly have the usual rockabilly stuff, which did not strike my fancy. I did, however, feel very drawn to an assortment of sweaters, which had been made by the owner's wife based on authentic 1940s patterns.
   
Sue Ryder Care 
28 Goodramgate

I loved this thrift store (or as they call it in the UK - a charity shop). Unlike most other thrift stores in town that had a pretty indifferent collection of old Marks & Spencer sweaters and ugly shows from the early 2000s, Sue Ryder had a vintage section on the second floor and some of the things there were divine. I have come across some really beautiful hairbrush and mirror sets that were in good condition and cost a fraction of what you would have paid for them in the vintage stores. I bought a pair of cream colored embroidered gloves there. I would have bought a hat, but I had no way of transporting it back home.    

Hope you liked this post. In my next one, I will list my favorite York cafes.

Vintage Market Finds and a Few Extras

I went to wonderful event the other week - York Does Vintage. It's a great vintage fair in a beautiful Merchant Adventurers' Hall. The medieval guildhall itself is worth a visit, and during the fair you can get a pretty good look around and the entrance fee is reduced.

The fair itself has a lot of great vendors. There's usually tea and cakes being served by one of York's many outstanding cafes. And there's some live music and possibly some workshop - last time it was decoupage.

I've been to a few of them, and I always come back with something pretty. I want to share a few of my finds from the fair and then a couple of things I got from here and there.

I am absolutely in love with this red silk Laura Ashley blouse (I apologize for the quality of the photos, I don't have a proper camera ATM). It's not a true vintage, but it can be styled in a few ways to give it a distinct 1940s look. I can see it with a pencil skirt for a glamorous seductive look or with a a pair of high-waisted trousers for a more day-to-day style.

This beaded belt with a thistle is gorgeous. I was quite surprised that none of the beads were missing. I think I would wear it with something light and flow-y.

I also got this lovely Stratton compact with tiny black birds. I started collecting compacts recently, and since I love everything bird related, I could not pass it by. I could not date it, but I found it on Etsy and the seller there suggests that it was made between 1960-68.

Finally, from Sue Ryder I got a pair of lovely soft cream colored gloves. I think they are divine with the little flower embroidery. And from an antique book store I picked up this book on how to be the perfect 1930s host or hostess. It's an eye opener and I will share many of the delightful tidbits of information from it really soon.

That's all for now. Until my next shopping spree.            

Moscow Goes Vintage - Flea Market at the Museum of Moscow History

I'm back after a long summer break with some fun pics to share with you. As always, I spent part of the summer in Moscow and had the pleasure of attending a couple really great events.

One of them was the Flea Market at the Museum of History of Moscow (unfortunately their page is only in Russian, so I'm linking to their wiki). Moscow doesn't seem to be as big on vintage and second hand as, say, Helsinki, but it's clearly getting there. It was very crowded.

My sister's friends have a vintage photo studio ШИПР (pronounced 'shipr') and they often attend events like this one with their old-timey camera.

And they don't just take your picture, you can also get to see how it's developed. Hint, it involves dipping the photo paper into many different liquids.    

But the results are quite stunning. 

I have to say, I love the look and feel of the photo. Unfortunately,the camera is very sensitive to movement. The slight blur on our skirts is a tiniest gust of wind. 

Since I got all dressed up just to take this photo, I will do the obligatory outfit run-down. (Every other blogger is  doing it, so I want to do it, too)   

  

Dress: '90s masquerading as '40s 

Shoes: borrowed from my grandma

Earrings & necklace: '60s vintage (a gift from my grandma)

My partner in this photo is a lovely statue of an early 20th century flaneur. The gentleman is very sharp dresser and quite clearly out and about to see and be seen. I feel like we make a very good pair.  

There were a lot of lovely dresses at the market, but I couldn't find anything that would really be my style (nothing within my price range, at least). But I did find a few things: 

 

A book on household management from 1958 proved to be a treasure trove of recipes, dress patterns and useful advice about cleaning fabrics, embroidering and gardening. I tried a recipe for beef stroganoff and love, love, LOVED  it!     

My other find was this cute little box of cake mascara, probably from the 1960s. I really want to start collecting vintage make-up and this is the first item for my collection. 

I got so inspired by my exposure to all this Soviet vintage, I felt I wanted one more thing. So I got a bottle of Moscou Rouge (aka Krasnaya Moskva) perfume. I am so in love with its scent. It very, very strong and so it has to be dealt out with a lot of care, but it has a strange otherworldly mystique to it. It reminds me of something past and half-forgotten. If you like vintage scents, I can't recommend it enough.             

Vintage Swimsuits that Dreams are Made of

As the swimsuit season approaches (in our Northern climate slower than in other places) Gemma from Retro Chick blog together with Bettylicious has organized a very timely giveaway.

My goal this summer is to look like Bettie Page, so I am very much in awe of everything Bettylicious has to offer. The rules of the giveaway are very simple: follow Retro Chick and Bettylicious on social media, write about them and you have a chance to win one of the gorgeous vintage-inspired swimsuits.

I have my eye on these three lovely pieces.

 

Polka dots white and red (Source)

I just love polka dots. It's cute and sexy all at the same time. 

Leopard print (Source)

When out at the beach on a hot summer day I like to channel a bit of Sheena, Queen of the Jungle.   

Sultry red (Source)

A lady is always stylish in red. A big hat, dark sunglasses and this little red number, and you feel like you're in an old spy thriller.  

I leave you today with some lovely vintage swimsuits.

Sheena, Queen of the Jungle (Source)

(Source)

Bettie Page on a Florida beach, by Bunny Yeager, 1954. (Source)

(Source)

Spring Wishlist or All the Things I want Right Now

Why, oh why, are there so many beautiful things out there? What a source of temptation! What is a lady to do but to sigh over them all.

Sadly, my financial situation doesn't permit me to spend any money on anything. But that doesn't mean I can't window shop and then share these finds here.

Navy Sailor Bathing Suit

via Recollections 

Forget bikinis and faux vintage bathing suits, this is the perfect beachwear for me. The outfit is a late 19th century bathing costume in navy blue cotton. I live right next to a beach, but our northern sea is usually too cold for swimming. But I love lounging or strolling the shoreline on a warm summer day. And this is what I'd want to to wear.    

Antoinette 18th Century Mules in Blue 

via American Duchess Historical Footwear

Oh, American Duchess, how adore everything you make! I wish I could step out in a pair of these light blue little Georgian slippers next time I go out for lunch with some friends. I adore the silver embroidery on these babies.       

Clocked Silk Stockings in White 

via American Duchess Historical Footwear

And speaking of American Duchess, these clocked silk stocking are to die for. I've been eyeing them for a while now and as soon as I have some spare coins in my purse, I am ordering me a pair. Stockings are wonderful for late spring, they provide you with just enough coverage to keep you warm, but make every outfit super cute and flirty.      

Rock 'N Rose Harriet Strawberries Floral Crown 

via ASOS

Floral crowns are always fun for both day-wear and party outfits. But add some strawberries to them and I am sure to go wild. I just want to wear this with a white cotton dress, eat strawberries and pretend I'm a garden fairy.   

Good Enough to Eat Dress 

via ModCloth

And speaking of eating, I am a huge fan of junk food. Milkshakes and burgers are my vice of choice, so I feel this dress was designed especially for me. This is the outfit I need to go to a street fair, do a bit of shopping and grab myself a hot dog.     

White Petticoat 

via Olivia Rouge

I need a petticoat. I just do. I have all these dresses with circle skirts, and no petticoat. I really love Olivia Rouge shop, and I already have a cute vintage print Bambi skirt from them. And they are conveniently located in a town close by.      

Red and Pastel Petal Globe Bow Necklaces 

via TinyAttic

There's just something tragically poetic about rose petals trapped in a glass sphere. It makes me both sad and delighted at the same time. It is all too possible that I have been reading too many novels and acquired a high degree of sentimentality. Still these necklaces would add a lovely Victorian touch to one's everyday outfit.     

Art Nouveau Velvet Kimono Jacket 

via She Vamps

And from Victorian to early 20th century, this sumptuous velvet kimono wrap is all I ever want in my clothes. It's gorgeous, ostentatious and can keep you warm in unpredictable Finnish spring weather. I am certainly enamored with every single piece by She Vamps.   

Prep Work for my First Pop Up Shop

I don't have much time to blog this week, mostly due to various deadlines, but also because I've been quite busy getting ready for my first Pop Up shop with some lovely people from Finland Handcarfters Team.

The venue is this really cool (pun intended) little Frozen Yogurt place called YoBot. So if you're in Helsinki this upcoming weekend,  then come and check us out. Since Mother's Day is coming up, this could be a great opportunity to find some cool and throutghful gifts for your Mum. 

   

Thrifty Finds

I'm a huge fan of thrift stores and flea markets, and so I thought it would be fun to share some of my recent finds with you.

Cobalt and gold tea cups (Imperial Lomonosov Porcelain Factory) from Frida Marina 

I already had a Lomonosov cobalt teapot, and so when I saw these pretty cups, I just new I had to get them for a set. Now all I need is a sugar bowl.  

 Fresh Spirit by Ellos dress from UFF

I really love the pattern on this cotton tunic dress. It has large yellow roses and smaller pink flowers on a green background. The cotton is very thin, so it will be perfect for hot summer days.

Belt from UFF

I got this brown studded belt on sale for just 1 Euro  It needed a little fix-up, but nothing some leather glue couldn't mend. It also doubles as a really cool bracelet.

Tirol dirndl from UFF

I saved the best for last. I got this dark pink Tirol dirndl for 3 Euros. I already have two Tirol skirts, one dress and a woolen vest. They're all handmade and the quality of fabric and stitching is very good. The dress has a cute pattern made up of red and blue lines with little light pink 'flowers' in the middle of each square. I'm loving its faux 19th century peasant look.