Purple Paisley Haze

Modern-Day Inspiration 

This Silk Dress by Isabel Marant for SS13

Vintage Inspiration

This 1970s Cotton Paisley Maxi-Dress - Available at The Rusty Zip size S £20

Peony Lim wearing Isabel Marant

 

Create her look by adding these Pearl Hair Pins from Asos - £10

If you want to add just a touch of print try this Paisley Vintage Scarf  from The Rusty Zip - £3

My own Paisley Top from Sparkle & Fade

Paisley Summer Dress by Chelsea Girl - Available at The Rusty Zip size 14 £15

Close-ups of two Vintage Blouses - Available at The Rusty Zip £10 each

Break away from your inner wallflower with this swinging 60s Psychedelic Mini-Dress - 

Soon to be available at The Rusty Zip

Frankie's Idea - 23rd July 1971

                                                                         

 Frankie says 'Heeeeyyyyy'

Thanks to my friend Kayleigh for finding this fun gem in work today, it oozes retro style! The article is about a suave young fashion designer who worked at the infamous nightclub Tiffany's. It's taken from the Daily Express 23rd of July 1971 and is written by Pam Harley-

Women's fashions featuring all that's frilly and feminine, and men's fashions featuring flamboyant, but not feminine clothes is the new trend a 21 year old Wakefield fashion designer would like to see followed in the near future.

The young designer is Frankie Johnson, a Nigerian, who lives at 90 Pinderfields Road. He is employed as a photographer, display artist and disc-jockey at Tiffany's, Southgate, Wakefield. 

As a former pupil at Wakefield Technical and Art College, where he did a three-year course in designing, Frankie feels that English fashions for men and women are at a virtual standstill.

For Himself 

Nevertheless, he isn't too worried about this state of affairs because in his spare time he designs clothes for himself and his friends. Pictured here is one of his recent designs for himself. It is a black and white small check suit in lightweight wool to be worn as everyday gear. The jacket has two large patch pockets and a top pocket, fish-mouth cuffs and Spanish braiding around the collar and down to the front. The trousers are in the French style, with narrow hips and wide, unflared bottoms.

£45 Suit

The suit was made to Frankie's specifications by a firm of Southgate tailors. The suit cost him around £45, but he told me that it could have been a lot cheaper had he not been so choosy about materials. The shirt he is wearing with the suit is also one of his designs. Made up by a Wakefield girl, it is in white and mauve spotted cotton. It is round-collared and has long, tight cuffs, giving a slight puff to the sleeves.

Bridal Outfit

Frankie's latest creations are two bridal outfits for two friends. For the bride, he has designed a full-length gown in white crepe cut on Tudor lines with a hood. His sketches show a delicately embroidered bodice and leg-o-mutton sleeves. For the bridegroom, he has designed a brown-grey suit in lightweight wool with braiding around the collar, wide lapels and imitation belts on the front of the jacket. The trousers are in the French style. 

With a careful eye for detail, he has drawn dozens of sketches for men's and women's fashions. If we adopted some of his colourful and stylish creations there would certainly be a lot of snappy dressers brightening up our cities and towns. 

Exciting News - Warehouse Talent Spot Comes To Belfast

Leeds Winner of Warehouse Talent Spot 2013 - 

                  

Zig A Zig Ah

 

This fab zigzag sequined Louise Gray for Topshop dress arrived into The Rusty Zip this week! It's around size 10-12 and brand new with the label still attached. Priced at only £60 it has a small hole on the front that can easily be mended. Original price £200 so this is a fantastic bargain!

I am also loving this silk pale pink embellished vintage frock. Perfect for Spring parties the detailing is incredible with pearl seed beads and shimmering sequins. It is also currently in The Rusty Zip priced at £45 and is also size 10-12.

Envoy of Belfast Loft Sale

ATTENTION FASHIONISTAS!

On Thursday 21st of March Envoy of Belfast will be having their first annual loft sale from 9.30am - 9pm coinciding with Belfast Fashion week! This fabulous unique boutique situated on 4 Wellington Street will present a one day opportunity to budding shoppers looking for those special designer pieces at greatly reduced prices. Envoy is home to exclusive brands such as Celine, Marni, Lanvin, Dries Van Noten and Paul Harnden that you won't find anywhere else in the whole of Northern Ireland. All of their pieces are carefully chosen for their excellent and distinctive quality of design, fabric, craftsmanship and coherent narrative. For some new season inspiration take a look at their website - https://www.envoyofbelfast.com/ and pep up your Spring wardrobe!

Conway Mill Textile Tour - An Introduction to Linenopolis

Looking for something a bit different to do around Belfast? Then check out this insightful textile tour of Conway Mill in West Belfast! 

Tour guide and vintage aficionado Rosie Moore first became interested in the history of the Conway Mill when she stumbled upon some early 1800s Gaelic birth certificates of the mill workers in the building's attic. Immersing herself in research she discovered some interesting facts about the linen industry and what it was like to live the life of a mill worker in and out of the workplace.

We started the tour outside at the mill's monolith where Rosie explained how the people of Belfast contributed to the making of the linen industry so famous throughout the world that Belfast was once known as Linenopolis. In 1842 the first part of the mill was built and was called Kennedy's Mill at at Millvale. In 1865 it amalgamated with the Falls Flax Spinning Company and that was its name until it closed down. Then between 1900 and 1910 the second mill was built to replace the weaving factory. This is why two different styles are seen (above.) Victorian bricks for the old building and Edwardian tiles for the new.

Without giving too much away about the tour what stayed in my head afterwards was the harsh working conditions within the main wet spinning room. Workers had to spin flax with bare feet, ankle-deep in water with chemicals and cockroaches, which caused a lot of health problems. The machinery was so loud that they learned to lip read and make up their own sign language. Singing was a way to keep spirits up to and from the workplace! The lives of the workers were tough but after reading accounts and stories told by the workers Rosie explains 'I was touched and warmed by their spirit and joy of life, despite their hardships. There was camaraderie, friendship, determination, and believe it or not, a great deal of fun and mischief, by way of pranks, celebrations and socializing.'

I really enjoyed the tour overall I found it to be a fascinating topic. Rosie's warmth, knowledge and charming stories throughout made it a truly valuable visit.

The tour is on every Friday at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm. It costs £6 per person and lasts 45 minutes. For more info check Rosie's web page - http://www.studio-nineteen.com/textile-tours.html

P.S - The Mill courtyard holds a 'People's Variety Market every Saturday between 10am-3pm. Stallholders include arts and crafts, vegetables, baked goods, meats, books, jewellery, homewares, handmade soaps, books etc. At the minute there are around 30 stall holders (mostly regulars) but people can put their name down for a stall and will be given a chance to take part as soon as possible. The cost per stall is £12 and the person to contact regarding renting a stall is Peter. The mill number is 02890 249646.

The Retro Show 2012 - Backstage Models