Droopy And Browns

(You can shop our collection of Droopy and Browns' items here)

For me, the idealism of vintage shopping is that sense of individuality; the opportunity to create a sense of romanticism amongst the mundane nature of day-to-day life. Therefore, it's refreshing to stumble upon a designer who lived their personal life with the same set of ideals. As I've said time and time again - when it comes to vintage shopping, it all comes down to quality; with this in mind, there is no designer who epitomises the spirit of vintage clothing quite like Angela Holmes - the late designer behind the brand that was Droopy and Browns. It's an honour to stumble across such well-made and unique dresses; each garment a piece of history within their own right, so much so that the majority of pieces designed by Angela Holmes are considered limited editions and are increasingly sought after by contemporary collectors. The intricacy and complexity of each garment alone should be enough to grab your attention, but failing that, Angela's passion and story will undoubtedly set a precedent for vintage shopping and hopefully strike a chord with you, thus inspiring you to dip your toe into the waters of vintage dressing. Got your attention? Good. Now here's for the fairytale...

Truth be told, Angela is something of an idol to me; uncompromisingly talented and relentlessly ambitious, she built the label Droopy and Browns off her own back. She avoided mainstream fashion as she simply didn't buy into the idea of "fad fashion" - Angela wanted both longevity and theatricality from her clothes. This love for extravagance can be traced back to her childhood, Angela was one of four children brought up on a Yorkshire farm and always had a penchant for theatricality, putting on shows in which she always played the role of a swooning princess; this offered her a form of escapism from the drudgery of day-to-day life on the farm. It's often noted that Angela was scarred by the death of her mother, and that this led to her locking herself away spending hours at a time drawing pictures of the elegantly dressed women that she had often dressed up as during her childhood. In fact, the first store that Angela bought was one in which she vividly recalled watching her mother shop for couture gowns, thus further fuelling her desire to build a brand which encapsulated the passion that her and her mother both shared. Angela was nostalgic for the days when clothes were beautifully made; she loathed the disposable nature of contemporary fashion, and the use of cheap labour which thus produced poor quality items. Angela's designs were brought to life with blood, sweat and tears; each piece created with a genuine love. She personally oversaw each stage of the process; she worked in natural fabrics, designed and drew many of the prints herself, and had them dyed to her own specifications. 

Yet, as interesting as Angela's biographical details are, she is made all the more inspirational for the sole reason that all of this was not just a business tactic; she lived and breathed the brand's core ideals. Angela was described as enigmatic; acquaintances have said that there was something strangely alluring about the girl with tumbling blonde locks who walked her dogs in the most glamorous of outfits whilst leaving clouds of perfume in her wake. Every single person in the fashion industry has at some point heard the same scornful line - "fashion is selfish, and not culturally significant". Yet, people like Angela Holmes dispel this tired outlook; fashion is a culture; a way to express individuality, a way to stand out from the crowd and embrace individuality, a form of escapism - fashion is anything you want it to be, and more importantly, it allows you to be exactly who you want to be- no restraints, no boundaries and no conformity. Angela Holmes fully embodies the spirit which lies within vintage shopping; we needn't focus on the tiresome and recyclable trends on the catwalk - fashion is self expression. 

Droopy and Browns' clothes are everything you could possibly want from vintage clothing; flamboyant yet feminine, contemporary yet historically influenced. Angela was quirky, she lived everyday as if it were an adventure and dressed accordingly for that; she brightened up the drab reality of everyday tasks and excluded everything that was mundane in the world. She filled her house with flowers and dressed as if each day was a special event. If her fashion influence doesn't inspire you to embrace all that is great about vintage shopping, then I'm not quite sure what will. These Droopy and Browns' items have reawaken my love for fashion and I hope they can do the same for you; they're bold and unashamedly unique, just as fashion should be. If nothing else, Angela proved that every day should be treated as an adventure, so why not dress like it? 

The Minimalist

• With temperatures already starting to cool, we're beginning to see our brief summer draw to a close. As depressing a thought as that is, a shred of excitement remains by seeing what trendy treats AW15 has in store for us. AW15 will see the revival of one of my favourite trends: Minimalism. The Minimalist trend has been championed by the likes of Alexander Wang for years; we will finally get a chance to pay homage to the sleek era of the 1990s which saw catwalk giants such as Calvin Klein and Helmut Lang dominate the scene with key pieces in luxe fabrics which oozed both sophistication and simplicity at once. The Minimalist is elegant without being in your face; it is simple yet luxurious; pared down but on point - relaxed but never boring. 

Shop our entire collection here

To channel The Minimalist trend, you should keep your eyes peeled for details such as spaghetti straps, square cut necklines and luxe, delicate materials that are reminiscent of  the boudoir trend; but the key thing to look out for will be silhouette - The Minimalist is all about loose fitting styles which move fluidly as you walk.  For a more daring take on The Minimalist, look out for plunging necklines but aim for a longer hem than you would normally consider. If done carefully, The Minimalist trend can ooze sexuality in an understated way due to the lingerie-inspired materials which move in tandem to your body - skimming over any problem areas whilst clinging to your shape briefly enough to subtly suggest the possibility of sensuality. It's also best to stick to a palette of black, navy, camel, grey and white, and most importantly of all - don't be tempted to overdo the accessories!

We can't wait to embrace this pivotal trend of the 1990s, but we know that the best way to do this is through vintage clothing! As I've said time and time again, an original will always be more fascinating than a replica - let's immortalise this crucial trend by wearing something which lived a life of its own in that very decade!

Double Act

Co-ordinate sets have taken the fashion world by storm this year, and appear to be continuing their reign of superiority right through AW15. Whether you choose colour-blocking or all-over pattern; sharply tailored or loose fitting - this season is all about matching separates whilst enabling you to pick your own silhouette and relish in individuality.

Vintage M&S check skirt suit - Sold Out  |  Vintage Mondi prep co-ord set - £45 (15% discount code below!)

You can shop our entire collection of vintage co-ordinates and suits here

With the temperatures set to cool as we move into Autumn, we'll shift away from the Summer staple look of a sleek pencil skirt and matching crop top; yet co-ordinates will still reign supreme. Instead we will see a flattering combination of structured tailoring infused with the youthfulness of coordinating prints or colours - think pencil skirts and matching blazers. Admittedly, on the surface, co-co-ordinates seem as if they may be restricting in the sense that 90% of your outfit is now defined by one single print or colour, yet with a few simple tweaks, co-ordinates could be just the double act that your wardrobe needs. If nothing else, co-ordinates are perfect for office-to-dancefloor outfits. A tailored two-piece can look chic in the boardroom whilst also remaining effortless for post-work drinks; the combination of a matching skirt and blazer layered over a sleeveless blouse oozes sophistication, yet layered over a simple camisole the same two-piece instantly becomes more youthful and fresh. A few adjustments to your jewellery, a quick ruffle of your hair and a swift double vodka and you're straight out of office-mode and good to go!

We currently have a 15% discount code running on all orders over £15 until 24/08/14, visit our shop here and use the code VINTAGE15 at checkout!