Vintage Fashion

19th November 2008 Hammersmith vintage fair was really really busy and had to have double expresso on way home and trembled my way down the M4, my helper Lyndsey did not show - so I was alone again. Thankfully I have neighbours at the fair who are brilliant fun and look after my stand while I look around, get food etc...off to do Bath Vintage Fair this Sunday - its going to be amazing, in the Assembly Rooms, and only half an hour drive. Tomorrow I am doing a photo shoot will all new stock to go on the website! I hope to be uploading over the next week. Here are the Chanel Shoes....see my website for more amazing treats, gifts and outfits: www.samayalingvintage.com

14th November 2008 Madly trying to get ready for Hammersmith, its a small space (2 x 2 metres) and i have so much I want to bring....also a few women have asked me to bring pieces from the website to try on so its really goingt o be a squash. I just tried on the Gucci shoes and they fit me. Tonight I am going out for cocktails, dinner and James Bond movie (should I have seen Casino Royale first?) and they would go perfectly with my bond woman (admit I'm not quite a girl anymore) outfit....

6th November 2008 I am in Vogue! December 2008 issue - see Vintage Vogue page....I have so many pieces to put on the website just need some time (fat chance for now but asap) and then vintage Gucci 1950s handbag, 1960s Dior clutch bag, Ossie Clark and lots of 30s beauties will be available....I have a new assistant on the stand at fairs too, Lyndsey, she is cute and very helpful, I think she will be able to keep me awake on the motorways no problem....we did Stroud Vintage fair last Saturday 1st Nov and it was brilliant. The Dior turban below is currently listed on Ebay to finish today - vintage of course and in mint condition.

16th October 2008 Just recovered from doing Hammersmith Vintage Fair alone (no driver!) last Sunday, I found an amazing green 1930s leather clutch bag, huge! photos and listing soon.....have just updated some items and reduced the prices on lots of dresses ready for a new selection coming soon...x.

8th October 2008 Today Jan Waldron from the BBC is coming around to borrow the 1930s Gold Goddess Dress (picture below) an Ossie Clark (not yet on website - incredible couture) and the 1950s Dior New Look dress...they are going to be modelled on the Antiques Roadshow...can't wait to see that. I'm off to Hammersmith VIntage fair this sunday, if anyone wants a free ticket email me!

4th October 2008 Bristol has its own Harvey Nichols! I have been to 'window shop' and accidently bought myself some Dior sunglasses, big and black and beautiful. Today I've been to Stroud Vintage Fair ( I think I am going to do a stand at the next one - its in a beautiful hall in the middle of town) I bought some lovely things to take to London, and some YSL sunglasses for me - to me they are like shoes, I can't have too many pairs. This picture is of an amazing pair of 1970s Balenciaga glasses, new on my website (there are also Cazal, Ted Lapidus, YSL and more...):

4th Oct cont. The VINTAGE IT BAGS article is out - BBC Homes & Antiques, its written by Judith Miller (Of Millers Antique Guides) and features not only some of my favorite bags but some beautiful Hermes & Lucite bags as well. I will ask my web expert to load up the PDF of the article on the press page asap. Now I have a lovely week of getting all my new stock ready for Hammersmith and hopefully some new stuff online too, my new flat is not good for taking photos...I am looking for a good studio space and some models too...........LATER - SEE PRESS PAGE FOR FULL ARTICLE!

23rd September 2008 Phew, I did photograph the bags on the 16th but have had photoshop issues, I have just uploaded the new beauties on to the Handbags page today, there are sweet little art deco beaded bags, large leather clutchs, perfect pearly evening bags and more......

16th September 2008 Getting ready for a vintage handbag shoot today, got to get some more on the website in time for the BBC Homes and Antiques article....Hammersmith vintage fair was busy on Sunday 14th, I took my friend Tam with me to keep me awake on the motorway and we had a great time, managed not to shop for me too much.....when we got back home (after waking up at 3 am and working / driving to London all day) we went out dancing til 2 am, now I feel like a bruised vintage (old) lady.

8th September 2008 Frock Me was brilliant yesterday, great to see everyone again and I lots of shoes and boots - one pair of boots were a black suede stiletto pair (by Emanuelle) with many different colour ribbon laces to choose from - they used to belong to Elton John's wife....they were too small for me as usual. I bought only one piece for me, a crazy huge tulle boa, 1950s couture, not sure how or where to wear it but it was too amazing to turn down. More later...

29th August 2008 Just back from camping in the rain and wind, got a tanned face somehow, possibly from sitting very close to the fire every night. Homes & Antiques magazines just sent my bags back from the shoot, I think its November's issue but will keep you posted....the article and photos look brilliant, I have had a peek but not allowed to show anyone until its out. Have had some strange order page issues with the website but my superb web designer has already fixed it. Let me know if you are having any problems using the site and I will get it fixed! Now to get ready for Frock Me on the 7th Sept, have lots of new stock to put on here too, can't wait for school holidays to be over and get some time to myself......More soon + pics of the fashion show once I have cropped myself out of them.....

16th August 2008 Brilliant night at the First Fling fashion show last night, everyone had dressed in 20s and 30s style and looked incredible. My 6 day and 6 evening wear outfits went down a storm, especially the 30s style Ossie Clark dress and the gold goddess 1930s dress, photos of the show coming soon.

13th August 2008 Finally new images are up on the homepage! I am just selecting clothes for the First Fling Fashion Show this friday 15th @ The Berkeley Square Hotel, Clifton , Bristol, it kicks off at 7 pm for the VIPs with chamagne then by 8 everyone is allowed in to view my vintage collection, Gilly Woo Couture and some other designers, I am putting together 6 evening outfits and 6 day outfits with all accessories from the 20s and 30s. I am going to sneak in the new Ossie Clark I found as its perfect 30s red carpet hollywood style, will get pictures from the night and load them up pronto. Here is Donna in my gold leather Gucci coat (coming to the website soon):

4th August 2008 Jan Waldron from BBC Homes and Antiques has just been to visit me and borrowed quite a lot of beautiful hand bags for a photoshoot for their November Issue (out early October) - will be uploading the PDF of the article (being written by Judith Miller) on my press page as soon as I get it! I have put a few new dresses up and will be photographing an amazing Ossie Clark eraly 70s dress I found last week too.....

30th July 2008 Later. Have been meaning to add this link - uk.glam.com/blogs/zuburbia/vpod_o_is_for_orange - I have been blogged! Great vintage fashion blog - check it out, she does a vintage pick of the day.........

30th July 2008 Why are the Italian and French Vogue better than ours? Just back from WOMAD music festival, it was fantastic, saw some strange vintage stalls there and the absolute highlight was watching Chic (1970s disco) live....more later, the website needs some help from my designer, the links page is not active (?) and I have new images for the home page....more soon!

13th July 2008 Later....tomorrow I am picking up my 8 copies of July's Italian Vogue (2 of each cover variation) from Borders in Clifton - they are doing a special edition using purely black models, I got this image from www.fashionafrica.com. I recommend getting yourself some copies - as well as showing support for a more equal fashion industry they are going to be collectors items - I'm going to keep some in the plastic and give the rest to my

nieces...........

13th July 2008 Forgot to say on last entry that 30th June issue of Grazia magazine has Sienna Miller in a red 1950s Dior dress, this was bought from me at Frock Me! She was obviously in a hurry to wear it as if you look at the back its gathered roughly and the edges are a bit frayed. I will try and find an image online to put here......

There she is! good styling with the black shoes......image from www.theinsider.com. Infact if you scroll down you will see a picture of the dress on my stand at Frock Me along with another amazing dress, orange chiffon 1920s grecian.....

9th July 2008 Big blog gap again, here are some pics from the shoot, my clothes, Lou @ Ruined styling, Dona modelling, Chris Lucas photographer.....more soon, see them all (including lots I don't like! www.flickr.com/photos/arunproductions/ am loading more stock onto website too later - I have found an amazing new Ossie Clark, late 70s, green with Celia Birtwell floral print, just perfect condition!

13th June 2008 Long time no blog - its been so busy - women looking for wedding dresses & dresses to wear to weddings, Frock Me last Sunday (which was fantastic) and yesterday I did a photoshoot with lots of my vintage pieces, photos will be loaded up on the homepage next week.....now I am getting ready for The London Vintage Fashion and Textile fair which is this Sunday, more pieces for the website coming in the next two weeks too.

28th May 2008 Later....I've just uploaded some of my best new pieces, beaded flapper dresses in black, orange, blue and beige, an incredible 1950s New Look Dior dress, a 1940s house coat that I would wear out of the house too and a floral chiffon full length 1930s dress, I will be adding more handbags next week, here is a picture of the 1920s beige beaded flapper dress....

28th May 2008. I am now a proud member of the Vintage Fashion Guild! If you have never checked out their website, do, its brilliant, lots of great shop links as well as vital information on caring for vintage clothing, vintage fairs and fashion history. Here is the link: www.vintagefashionguild.com I am getting new stock ready for Frock Me vintage fashion fair on June 8th and then Hammersmith vintage fair on the 15th, I have found some incredible 1920s beaded flapper dresses as well as some beautiful little art deco clutch bags, more stock to be uploaded asap on the website too.........here is a picture from my stand at the last Frock Me.

12th May 2008. Glad that week is over! Chelsea and Hammersmith Fairs were great, lots of women looking for wedding dresses (to wear to weddings and to get married in) and lots of lovely shoes for sale, I saw a pair of 1940s wedge sandals, black suede, beautiful shape in my size and went off to think about it and when I went back they had sold, this is the way with fairs, if you love it and it fits - buy it! I need to take my own advice. More soon.........

30th April 2008. Really really busy this week sorting out more pieces for the website and getting ready to do the "Memory Lane Fair" at Chelsea Town Hall on Sunday 4th May. I went to a lovely antique textile fair on Tuesday 29th (yesterday) in Honiton, Devon. I bought some lovely Edwardian lace blouses and nearly bought a vintage quilt .....but managed to resist but it did give me the idea to do 'soft things' for the home on the website too, quilts, anitque linen etc. Next Sunday 11th May is Hammersmith (London) vintage fair again so I will look for some more stunning pieces for the website while I am there. If anyone would like a free ticket email or phone me and I can get one to you either in post or via email.

25th April 2008. Now its live but not ready! We are working on the design, look and functions for a few more days but everything should be working - if anyone notices anything terrible I would be very grateful if you'd let me know..............so it was a good job I did not realise who Jean Paul Gaultier was as I would not have been so relaxed and probably would have said something embarrassing (I can do that a lot) as it was JPG and his stylish entourage went away very happy with their purchases and I had another great day in London.

22nd April 2008. This is my first ever blog, ( I don't like the word blog too close to bog) and the website is still not live! I have just found several more stunning 1930's evening gowns to measure, describe and photograph for the online shop and am off to France to buy some lovely early 50's dresses from a secret location...Keep an eye out for new pieces being added................more 'blog' soon, including how Jean Paul Gaultier bought three pieces of luxury vintage from my stand at The London Vintage Fashion & Textiles Fair and I did not know who he was....