Style and the City – Norwich

Looking for a city break to break the monotony of the Summer? Norwich is the place to go, and to tell us all about this town I have vintage queen Gemma Seager from Retro Chick and Vintage Norwich. There is more to Norwich than historical buildings… there’s shopping, bucket loads of style, and more importantly, there’s cocktails!

How would you define your personal style?

Generally I’d say classic with a vintage twist, but I occasionally like to go a bit crazy!

Style is …

Confidence in your own style and not being afraid to experiment. So many women dress how they think other people want them to dress, it’s such a shame.

Tell me about Norwich

It’s in the East of England. During the 11th Century it was the second largest city in England! Those days are long gone, but I think we now have a massive vintage community that’s possibly second only to London! I run a local website called Vintage Norwich (www.vintagenorwich.co.uk) that covers all our local events listings and venues.

Any particular reason why you live there?

No! I came on holiday and stayed! I loved the history of the place and the fact that it’s compact, but not too small. It has everything you need.

What are your favourite places to shop in Norwich?

I’m an avid bargain hunter so I love the Charity shops on Anglia Square and the Antique Markets on Tombland. Otherwise I love Poppy Valentine in the Royal Arcade for beautiful 50s style retro frocks. We have some good vintage shops that are always worth a look too. Lulu’s on Tombland, Antidote on Upper St Giles and Prim on St Benedicts are a few good ones.

Best things to do in Norwich over a weekend?

Have Afternoon Tea at Biddy’s Vintage Tea Room, explore the vintage shops (all listed on Vintage Norwich!) and have a sneaky cocktail at The Birdcage, a gorgeous Art Deco pub.

Gorgeous Gemma at Biddy’s Vintage Tea Room

If you could only eat in one restaurant in Norwich, which one would it be?

Only one! I’m not sure I could chose! The restaurant attached to the art cinema Cinema City does gorgeous food though, so maybe there!

Isn’t she lovely? Gemma Seager writes about vintage on Retro Chick. She also has a fantastic online store. For more information on events happening in Norwich go to www.vintagenorwich.co.uk

Pictures: Retro Chick

What I Bought – pretty shoes & a vintage find

What happens when you find a great vintage army jacket for only €15 (£13)? you want to wear it with EVERYTHING… even if it’s just some underwear. I may be pushing the limits here a tad, but I’ll let you decide whether this works or not.

Army jacket: vintage 80s -90s
Camisole: New Look
Shoes: Vivienne Westwood by Melissa courtesy of Spartoo

I found this jacket in a vintage store in Berlin, at the actual Bread & Butter show, and at that price, it had to be mine. How about the shoes? I’ve been coveting a pair of Vivienne Westwood Lady Dragons by Melissa for a long while, and finally I’m fortunate enough to get a pair. While they seem comfortable, they are a bit tight around the toe area: alas, it’s the curse of The Evil Fat Toe striking again *sigh*

I hope you are all having a splendid summer xx

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

How To Save Money On the Sales – the aftermath

Remember my strategy for the upcoming summer sales? After a couple of shopping trips, my plans were squashed and left me with a bitter after-taste edging  towards deep disappointment. Having recently moved to Spain I was really looking forward to some decent bargain hunting at Zara, but I was obviously deluded.

At the store, it looked like a bomb had hit the place. Remember how I mentioned how some shops had the visual edge? This Zara branch clearly had none. The only reason why I didn’t make a U-turn as soon as I walked through the door, was because I was after certain items I had already eyed during the season. I’m guessing that’s what everyone does and Zara knows this, hence the lack of effort tiding up the shop floor.

Secondly, we all know their full prices are somewhat inflated, as the quality is never amazing, I have witnessed how a blouse that cost over €30 ended up ruined after one wash. I went to Zara at exactly 7 hours after they opened for sales, at 5pm on the first day. I found a gold knitwear jumper that was ruined in every single of the 7 pieces that were left. Maybe I’m looking for the wrong type of item during the sales (???), knitwear being a delicate thing and the rush of people makes these items really suffer. I also came across several blouses missing at least a button, a purse with a ripped zip, and skirts that looked like somebody had used them to sweep the floors. To top it, these items were still overpriced: in the case of the knitted jumper, €35 for a piece that was so badly manufactured – in Turkey, apparently – it was full of pulled threads and holes. The hangers they were on over-stretched their necklines to nasty extents.

Is that what I can expect from Zara’s sales? defective pieces at high prices? I could have gone up to the till – as that was were all sales attendants seemed to gather, none on the floor tiding up the rails or tables – and asked for a further reduction, but the queues were of +12 people each. I really didn’t have the heart to wait for so long, for maybe, an extra 10% reduction if anything.

Don’t get me wrong, I have worked in retail, during the sales, and the mayhem is such that it becomes near to impossible to keep an eye on the state of the store when a human tide is ravishing through it. However for the quality of mass-produced fashion, that we all know is very cheap to make, finding such hefty price tags seems like a cruel joke.

Did I managed to stick to my wish list? not really, as I hardly found any of the items I was after. I did manage to purchase a cute bikini, at another store, but it wasn’t even reduced so I only bought the top, then teaming it with some bottoms that were at half-price.

My sister did find a cute dress over at Zara, still overpriced, again for what it was, at €20, but we felt the colour and the cut were simply perfect for the summer, plus the fabric seemed so light I was really happy she went for it – I just really hope it doesn’t shrink in the laundry. What do you think?

Dress: Zara
Bag: Stradivarius
Sandals: Pull & Bear circa 2006
Shades: Topshop

This is probably the first time I feature my little sister here, Tina, apart from now and then on former logo’s and site headers. She’s one gorgeous kitty and I love her for letting me take pictures of her to publish on Fashion Limbo.

So, were the sales good to you?

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Bread & Butter Shopping Nights

Love from Berlin! I arrived on Wednesday, managed to arrive to my hotel, safe and sound, with only half an hour to rest before hitting Berlin-Mitte for the Bread & Butter Shopping Nights. The centre of Berlin was full of fun events: fashion shows, special sales, DJs, live music. I hit a couple of parties, drank some bubbles and here are some pictures for you to have a nose-around, it’s almost like you are all here with me!

Buffalo window display

Colourful display at 14 OZ garden GARAGE sale

CLOSED opening party

Live music by The Mainstream at Gin Tonic Store, Berlin

My first impressions of Berlin? it is full of very cool people, and they know they are cool. Fashionably wise, not afraid to wear daring trends, the rule here is dress however you like, feel comfortable in your own skin, and if your hair is bright pink, so what? no big deal. Suddenly I feel so boring, so – dare I say – average (!!!).

Have a fantastic weekend!!!!

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Berlin Bread & Butter – my personal report

I have just walked into my hotel room after a day at the Berlin Bread & Butter Supershow: I’m truly exhausted, my body aches, my feet are burning… this may be related to my choice of impractical footwear – leopard print wedges – but they lured me with their “we are wedges, we are comfortable!” cries, and as the silly fashionista I am, I put them on and spent the following 8 hours punishing my toes, walking up and down the 1,200 metres long Temelhof airport, the Bread & Butter venue..

Complaints aside, this is my report of the Berlin Bread & Butter exclusively for you.

Trends to come? In stores from February 2012: pastels are still heavily present, coloured jeans are everywhere, still straight and even skinny. I particularly loved some emerald blue ones from Calvin Klein Jeans. Retro designs à la 80s in trainers, and the surprise? The (in)famous smiley is making a comeback… how acid, how nineties.

Calvin Klein Jeans … right before I was told not to take pictures

I adored the bright lights… but then again I love anything shiny

Pretty girls everywhere… seriously, there was plenty bare flesh on display… see picture below

Tommy Hilfiger thought it would be interesting to show everyone what goes on under water

Butterflies everywhere: Fornarina with Alexander McQueen inspired mannequins, Miss Sixty too.

Pretty Ballerinas and a lot of girlie-girl style for… girls

Iron Fist were one of the few to “openly” show off their products, most brands were secluded by high walls

Iron Fist had some fantastic footwear

Scary performers … I admit I was a tad uncomfortable with them… ok I was scared, terrified alright?!!

Bread & Butter survival kit: Smartphone, water, and a vintage find 😉

Free popcorn by McGregor, one of many, MANY freebies

The best parts? 1) The press lounge and it’s lovely food, my stomach was kept happy. 2) Bumping into Avril Lavigne!!! I kid you not, she has her own fashion brand, Abbey Dawn. Before you ask, yes I was standing right next to her, no I didn’t dare say anything – I’m too bloody polite/British to bother celebrities, that’s my excuse – and she is gorgeously petite and prettier in person. 3) The wonderful vintage shop I came across with some very friendly and cute guys who sold me a fantastic vintage military jacket for only €15 – in the picture above.

Not so good: How you are not allowed to take pictures almost everywhere. Fashion bloggers are  hardly appreciated here. We may be given a chance to attend the show, but very few brands see the point of our existence: a great – and FREE -way of promoting their business. The ones that let you take pictures are the most open to talk, the friendlier, but also the ones that are still relatively small, which is what, actually, happily interests me, and hopefully you too.

Pictures: Fashion Limbo

Where to Shop – Marbella Saturday market

Last week I spent some days with my beautiful sister in Marbella, her current home. I have a couple of projects lined up with her to share with all of you, but more on that soon.

I have talked about Marbella before, how there are plenty of people there with astronomical amounts of money, driving cars that are somewhat unbelievebable. There is something quite unique about being woken up by the sound of a Lamborghini Diablo speeding by your window. It’s another world.

My sister had been telling me about the town’s Saturday market for a good while so we decided to go and check it out. The verdict? pretty good and worth visiting.

There are hundreds of stands, tons of merchandise: jewellery, accessories, clothes, leather goods, ceramics and even an antique area, which if you like over the top barroque-style of furnishings this is the place to go. While it’s not to my personal taste, it was still interesting to have a wander around.

Tip: get there really early, from 9am it’s mayhem to park your car, carry lots of water as the temperatures in Summer are excruciatingly hot and there’s hardly any shade.

The find of the day? these customised trainers and shoes by Mari Paz Alario, an artist from Malaga. She mainly paints beautiful pictures, but she has now ventured into fashion, with some gorgeous items, such as these pretty trainers. Each piece is unique as she paints them by hand. For more info on her creations click here.

What do you think? Would you go for something like this? I’m especially in love with the pink ones, of course!!

See you in Berlin everyone! Next time you visit Fashion Limbo I will be at the Berlin Bread & Butter Supershow reporting on the brands present there for you: urban fashion, ethical fashion, bohemian chic, you name it, I’m there!!

The Puerto Banus street market in Marbella is on every Saturday from 9am to 2-3pm. It’s next to the Plaza de Toros (bullring), 10 minute walk from the port.

Pictures: Fashion Limbo