Bristol Vintage

We’ve been showcasing some wonderful exhibitors for this year’s Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair and as it's not only #WW today [that’s Wedding Wednesday, you know] but also the #Wedding Wednesday of the year, I [that’s Sarah here, *waves hello*] thought it might be nice to tell you a little more about the lady who makes the annual Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair possible and what she does when she’s not organising this brilliant event.

I expect you know already that Bristol Vintage is a Bristol based company co-founded by Ali Cook and Katie Daniels and, since the birth of Katie’s baby girl, is being run by Ali.  She has over 10 years experience organising boutique events, weddings, parties and film premieres and the idea for the company was inspired by her passion for vintage and love of tea-cups and cupcakes.

It was after attending a number of fairs and realising that they were looking for something that little bit different, that Ali and Katie realised a dedicated vintage wedding fair was exactly what the South West needed.  They came up with the idea to hold their own and last spring held the very first Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair at the Clifton Pavilion.  

This year’s fair is bigger and better, as they welcome back some wonderful exhibitors and showcase some new ones for you, each handpicked and offering gorgeous vintage dresses, fabulous corsets, brilliant headgear and stunning cakes as well as exceptional photographers, beautiful, bespoke stationery, fantastic florists and more.  There’s retro and romantic entertainment and of course there’s always cake served on Bristol Vintage’s very own crockery.  Like last year, there are goodie bags for the first 250 visitors and entry is completely free.

Last year was incredibly exciting for Bristol Vintage with growing wedding orders and even supplying crockery for the fabulous Miss Marmite Lover for her festival pop-up dinners.

This year Bristol Vintage has a few more things up its sleeve and, having just supplied the M-Shed with Babycham glasses for it’s fabulous Norman Parkinson launch Ali is now working with the RWA on a Mother’s Day afternoon tea in the stunning RWA building.  So if you'd like to get in touch or you're planning a wedding or party, come along to the fair on 26th February and meet Ali in person, or you can email Bristol Vintage at info@bristolvintage.co.uk

Flo-Jo Boutique

At Flo-Jo Boutique you’ll find a collection of hand made undies, knicker making kits and frilly pinnies.  They search high and low for their retro-inspired prints and find inspiration in vintage silks which they ‘upcycle’ into unique one-off garments. 

Designing, sewing and making all things vintage inspired since 2004, they now concentrate on making one-off pieces and hosting knicker making and sewing parties so you can buy, but you can also create.  Why not book the perfect Hen Party that includes learning how to make a pair of French knickers with vintage lace and a garter for the bride?  There are many different packages on offer with Cox & Baloney and the Hotel du Vin where you can round off the creativity with cocktails or a high tea and very soon, Flo-Jo will be moving into their very own boutique venue on Gloucester Road.  Here they’ll have a retro style 50s kitchen inspired workshop space, filled with sewing machines. 

At the fair, Delia will be bringing a gorgeous selection of knickers and garters to show you just what you can make using vintage silks and lace.  She’ll have some of the Fancy Pants knicker making kits too.  They’re a great introductory sewing project for lovers of vintage and make perfect bridesmaids and hen party gifts.  Each kit includes a fully graded reusable pattern and you can choose from their range of cute cottons, frilly elastic and satin ribbons.

If you’re after something to buy, all their lingerie is handmade in their studio in Bristol and each piece is unique.  From cottons to satins to the sheer luxury of their limited edition vintage silk collection, each item can be gift wrapped to make that purchase extra special.  Their website has plenty of gift ideas from aprons to eyemasks, all in gorgeous retro designs.  There’s even a haberdashery section so you can buy the materials direct and do check out the double sided bunting.  Delia will be bringing some on the day to show you just how fantastic it can make a room look.  There’s plenty available to hire for your wedding or to make yourself with her kits.  Flo-Jo is a fun place to create and they have expert advice to guide even the total beginner in the art of knicker making.  

Come along and meet Delia at this year’s fair and happy knicker making!

Custard House Clothing

Welcome to Custard House Clothing, the home of reworking vintage clothes.  If you have an item of clothing that you’d like altered or customised or perhaps you have something you’re longing to wear as a wedding guest but you’d like it to look more vintage inspired, Custard House Clothing provide a professional dressmaking service that’s perfect for you.  They can help out whether it’s recreating your favourite worn out winter coat, a special dress that needs a re-vamp or making you that perfect vintage outfit you saw in a magazine.  Custard House can turn their hand to anything, sorting your hemlines, linings, fixing holes and recreating an item you’ve loved but have worn to death!

With a boudoir boutique-style new shop at South Arcade, St Nicolas Market open Monday to Saturday and an outdoor stall open Fridays and Saturdays, talented owner Janine Chisholm is also available by email for any enquiries.  A former student of Theatre Design, Janine specialised in Costume, completing a Post Graduate in Innovative Pattern Cutting at St Martins College of Fashion. She worked in Professional Theatre and Television for years and her passion for clothes and helping people with their dress led her to create this ingenious business that’s so much more than alterations.  Janine also sells an evolving range of carefully selected vintage and vintage-inspired clothes customised by herself and talented designers Sawdust and Diamonds.  There’s also vintage accessories from Mulberry china tea sets to the perfect evening clutch, vintage buttons to update your favourite cardigan, pre 1990's clothing patterns if you fancy making something yourself, scarves and sunglasses.  It’s all there and more with items from local designers adding to the eclectic mix.

So perhaps you have a dress that needs a revamp?  Why not bring it along to the Fair and ask her advice?  Janine can inject vitality and new life into tired clothes, creating a brand new look for you that’s perfect for attending a wedding or perhaps a vintage wedding dress itself!  She can offer styling suggestions and we’re thrilled to discover she’s writing a book due out Autumn this year in which she details how to rework your own clothes alongside constructive advice and some beautiful visuals.  Till then, bring your wardrobe to Custard House Clothing to uplift, refresh and re-style and take a good look at their website or Facebook page.  Who knows what you’ll find?