Winter Warmers.

Ah Winter - when the mornings become just as dark as the nights, and the weather as deceiving as a good  Instagram filter. Let's face it, when you think about it like that, it's almost enough to make you turn up the thermostat and send you whimpering to the warm embrace of your bed until the first glimmer of Spring arrives. However, to tempt you out of hibernation, we've scoured around for a selection of vintage coats so hot that they'd rival the dearly missed temperatures of Summer....almost. 

1. The 1960s Coat

This English Lady branded coat is quite the vintage gem and fits in perfectly with the British heritage vibes which are always popular with the ever lust-worthy Mulberry designers. This particular coat is made of 100% pure wool and comes in an appeasing palette of grey with subtle flecks of orange and brown which add further depth to rich quality of design. The coat is slightly flared which makes for a flattering silhouette in spite of the many layers that we'll undoubtedly be wrapping ourselves in this winter.  As far as detailing goes, the rounded collar is atypical of 1960's fashion but the five statement buttons help this coat fit in with contemporary styles, thus making it a truly timeless piece. So, dust off the vinyl player and your favourite Beatles record and get ready to embrace the swingin' sixties in this stylish swing coat available here

2. The Tweed Coat.

This Alexon Herringbone offering is the perfect coat for all of you ladies who have to hop around the place for business meetings. Smart, sophisticated and stylish, it makes for the perfect office coat. The cut screams minimalism but the luxurious velvet collar adds the hint of elegance needed to really dress up a monotonous work wardrobe; the notched lapels and double breasted fastening are the final stroke of professionalism. This coat is sure to send the boardroom into hushed silence when you make your entrance. To quote the ultimate female entrepreneur; "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman." You can see additional images of this dress and make the smart decision to purchase it here

3. The Camel Coat.

I don't know what it is about a camel coat, but they always seem to epitomise ladylike elegance and style, and this Ravens coat is no exception. A stunning blend of soft 70% virgin wool and 30% camel hair, this coat is a true beauty. It features a slight flare to the hem and comes with a matching belt with slide buckle to really clinch in that waist and give you a more defined silhouette. Personally, I think a camel coat can really pull together a winter outfit, it might be something to do with its ability to stand out against the sea of greys and blacks which become a little bit tiresome during the winter months, yet it's still a universal shade that doesn't clash with any other colours. If you're looking for a coat which you can wear with virtually any outfit, then this could be for you.

4. The Cape

Don't they say to save the best until last? I admit, I've fallen a little bit in love with this H Moser cape. It's presented in the lovely autumnal shade of bottle green and is truly striking. With the likes of Victoria Beckham and Olivia Palermo being partial to this style, it's fair to say that a cape coat is a must-have this season, and really sets apart the trend setters from the fashion followers.  This particular cape is a fantastic blend of thick wool which really adds a stunning shape to what can often be perceived as a shapeless garment. I personally suggest that you buy this little number before I get the chance to snap it up myself and add it to my ever expanding collection. 

So, there you have it - our best selection of coats to keep you both fashionable and warm this winter. The best part? You needn't even venture out into the cold to purchase them! As ever, our full collection of coats are conveniently available here. 

The Fur Debate...

Fur is perhaps the most controversial subject in the fashion world with fierce debates on the topic which have spanned over the course of decades, therefore it is often a difficult subject to broach.  As a concept, the selling of vintage clothing encourages the utilisation of all materials in a bid to promote sustainability, which means that we do sell vintage fur but we do so in accordance with the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations, and hence have a "no new fur" policy. 

In regard to selling fur, I feel that it is necessary to address the issues and history that comes with such a controversial topic rather than to shy away from them, yet I do so with an open mind. The 90's saw perhaps one of the biggest anti-fur movements in contemporary history, with PETA's supermodel led campaign  entitled "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur". Yet, in recent years fur has unabashedly crept back into the limelight with some of the faces (Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell) of that same campaign wearing fur. At the end of the day, fur comes down to personal preference and most of you will have had your minds made up on the topic well before stumbling onto this post so it would be unethical for us to either encourage or discourage our buyers on such a sensitive matter; however we feel that it is necessary to approach the subject with both honesty and sensitivity.  

With the main issues addressed, I will say that our collection of fur is presented in excellent condition - no stains, no odours or balding - such is the quality of vintage fur. Vintage fur is often referred to as "glamour without the guilt", and this is something worth considering if you are going to buy fur; you get the same luxury and quality without the animals of today dying. It almost makes sense to recycle vintage garments rather than to hide them away at the back of a closet whilst waiting around for this ethical dilemma to be solved; this way it avoids the unnecessary sourcing of new fur. Debbie Berwick, a well-renowned vintage retailer states “As long as the animals aren't going to be killed now, the coats that are here now, I cant see any problem re-wearing them. I don't like the fact that they're going to be killing animals in the future but I cant see the problem in wearing vintage." 

Regardless of your own personal stance on the matter, there is no denying that fur -  real or faux -will be big news this winter with celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Lily Allen and Kate Moss all being snapped wearing designs of real fur. Style and fashion aside, these celebrities applaud the unique luxury, warmth and ecologically-conscious properties that go along with choosing authentic vintage fur over man-made materials. We stock a wide variety of vintage fur which can be found here, with more to be added. The images above are both taken from our collection with the white fur coat being almost identical to the famous fur coat worn by Marilyn Monroe. Our collection is of phenomenal quality and luxurious design 

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? 

In With The Old

First things first - welcome to the first official blogpost from The Vintage Clothing Collection - where we'll be posting regular style tips, lookbooks and plenty of general vintage fashion musings and/or ramblings. We're passionate about all things vintage and hope to inspire the same enthusiasm within you.

Over the past few years, there has been an explosion of interest in vintage fashion; with the likes of Kate Moss stepping out in some of the most coveted of vintage finds, the curiousness and sense of intrigue soon turned to a frenzy in which vintage fashion finally cemented its place in the fashion world. Today's shoppers are shunning the drudgery of mass produced trends and are instead searching for individualistic pieces that the high street could never hope to deliver. The fact is that most high street pieces now imitate the styles of decades gone by; why wear a replica when there are originals just waiting to be stumbled across? I would personally rather wear a genuine 1920's flapper dress with the romance of wonderment as to the story behind it than a mass-produced number from off the rails of my local Topshop.

Vintage clothing allows us to transcend beyond the overblown hype of regurgitated looks from the high street and find out our own personal style rather than remaining blinkered as to what is currently deemed as "fashionable"; the truth remains that fashion is temporary whereas style is eternal. So why not lose yourself in the pursuit for a one-of-a-kind piece of history? My first vintage buy was a 1960s shift dress that I would have never even considered taking to the fitting rooms had I seen it on the high street, but something about the silhouette captured my eye, and the rest - as they say - is history. At the time, everybody else was wearing Celeb Boutique bodycon dresses, so my 1960s find allowed me to stand out and not have to be overcome with the unifying horror of "what if I walk in this bar and somebody else has this dress on?" It was liberating.

So, my advice to you vintage virgins? Drop all of your inhibitions and expectations, and just browse. No pressure, no drama. Just embrace the feeling that comes with accidentally stumbling across something that you never would have considered before; vintage shopping should remain primarily fun if nothing else. Whether you hone in on just one small detail of a piece - be that a pattern, or something as miniscule as a detail on one button - leave your comfort zone behind and let your true sense of style run wild. You'll never look back.