Vintage Baker Finds - Retrovert

Every so often I find a vintage supplier who's so good I have to share. So while they might not always be 'Bristol' based, they certainly get the Bristol Vintage & Vintage Baker Finds seal of approval.

This week is all about Retrovert.

Retrovert specialises in vintage clothing and accessories from the 1920s through to the 1980s.

Their collection is totally unique and absolutely authentic. 

You can find them via their online shop, at local Cambridge events and vintage fairs.

Retrovert is owned and run by Sophie and her eclectic collection is inspired by her love of textiles and design. 

Find out more on the website, have a read of Sophie's online vintage blog or check out where she'll will be visiting next on the events page. You can follow Retrovert on Twitter and Facebook too. Happy vintage shopping!

When Sarah Baker isn't writing children's books she writes features for Vintage Life Magazine and Pretty Nostalgic. You can find her on Twitter @bysarahbaker or via her website www.bysarahbaker.com 

L K BESPOKE BRIDAL - STUNNINGLY UNIQUE WEDDING GOWNS

If you're looking for a distinctive, hand crafted wedding gown that is totally unique to you as well as fantastic personal service every step of the way, Lisa Keating is your lady.

A wonderful designer with over 28 years' experience of making wedding gowns and corsets, Lisa will work with you to capture your vision of the perfect wedding dress. 

Specialising in alternative, bespoke bridal wear Lisa has a BA in fashion and textiles and teaches at Heartspace in Clevedon.  Her personal passion is stunning corsets and co-ordinated skirts and she runs weekend corset making workshops (honeymoon surprise for the new hubbie, or a great hen weekend idea!). 

She is essentially a designer who makes and pattern cuts and her work with you will always be collaborative.   Her aim is to bring your dream to life and to reflect your personality through your individual design, guiding you through the maze of possibilities - helping you choose the style, colour, shape and material that is perfect for you.

Her passion for fashion and textiles means she keeps up with current trends as well as taking inspiration from historical fashion, film and theatre and she takes pride in developing each gown from the early research stages through fabric sourcing, pattern-cutting and creating each individual dress by hand to couture standards, to your final, magical fitting!

When you start your journey with Lisa you'll be working with a true artist.  She's always pushing the boundaries and can make the most beautiful fairy-tale wedding dresses, inspired by Boho chic or a vision of Marie Antoinette but also experiments with other designers, including a great leatherworker - producing a pattern-printed leather corset. Her work is her passion and she's always looking at new materials and designs.

Lisa also offers an alteration service so, if you have a vintage dress or a family heirloom she can help.  One bride had a beautiful coat made from her mother's wedding dress.

Not only will you adore being involved in the creative process, you will love working with Lisa because of her lovely, bubbly personality.  Her enthusiasm and love for her work is all-encompassing.  Visiting her studio is a dream - there's so much to look at - you'll want to touch everything, with beautiful laces, silks and samples!  You really won't want to leave!  

A fabulous bonus of working with Lisa is that the bride is given all her beautiful sketches, the pattern and her swatches as keepsakes of the creative process.  

Her clients can't sing her praises enough - read what they say and you'll be dying to start working with her! 

Clifton Hill Costume and Textiles

Bristol Vintage is delighted to welcome back Clifton Hill Costume and Textiles.

Clifton Hill Costume and Textiles is an antique and vintage costumier as well as a haberdashery with a unique collection of vintage ‘Mother of the Bride’ ensembles, men’s morning suits and stunning gowns on offer. They also run a hire, alterations and customisation service.

Since last year Clifton Hill Costume and Textiles has enlisted the help of some very talented ladies, so alongside their wonderful collections they now have some of AMG Costumier’s beautiful creations - think bridalwear corsets, regency dresses and more. Abby of AMG also runs workshops and takes commissions.

Tricia Designs is an innovative milliner who's also exhibiting at our next Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair.  Since linking with Clifton Hill, nearly all of Tricia’s winter faux fur range and her recently launched S/S collection ‘Vintage Curl’ feature a little something from the shop, be it lace, a beautiful button or some rescued 20’s glass beads. Tricia also makes her own lace as featured on the hat below.

Clifton Hill's shop is brimming full of inspiring pieces, patterns and ideas, but make sure you visit them at our next Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair. They'll be bringing along plenty of things old, a few things new and something very special in blue!  

Clifton Hill Costume and Textiles

Clifton Hill Costume and Textiles is an antique and vintage costumier - and a haberdashery!

Boasting an impressive hoard of vintage treasures, costume and textiles, and haberdashery including buttons, fasteners, buckles, hats & hat decorations, lace ribbon, gloves, costume jewellery and many more rare and fashionable curios; you’re guaranteed to find something unique for your wedding.

The store hosts stunning examples of lace dresses from the turn of the twentieth century, sections of beaded dresses rescued from the 1920’s and a variety of trims, handmade and machine lace. If you're looking for inspiration or pieces for customising your outfit, go and spend an afternoon immersing yourself in this Aladdin’s cave! 

Jenny also stocks wedding dresses and two-piece outfits ready to wear or for alteration (each item is a one off). She has evening dresses, nightwear and accessories, including new and handmade items from vintage stock, by a handpicked selection of designers. For the mother of the bride there’s an extensive range of beautiful ensembles including pieces by Kunick, Harrods designers and Jacques Vert .

If you're looking for something specific for your big day and struggling to find it locally or online, email Jenny at cliftonhillcostume@gmail.com or visit the shop from Spring 2013 to browse her fascinating collection. Visit Facebook to be kept up to date with offers and events, but make sure you stop by and meet Jenny at our next Fair – she’ll have just a taste of all the treasures with her to inspire you.

Clifton Hill Antique Costume & Textiles

A short walk from the Clifton Triangle can take you to a veritable treasure trove of antique, vintage and retro garments, hats, accessories, textiles and haberdashery that never ceases to surprise even the most seasoned of visitor.

Originally owned by the eponymous Gillian Holder, the heart and soul behind the store before she passed away in early 2011, Jenny Ford now looks after this wonderful place.  She’s written a beautiful blog about working with Gillian and how she’s reviving the costume shop and its collections.  You’ll learn how originally working there part-time and through the process of arranging and rotating stock, going through rail upon rail and unpacking boxes of fabric, she heard the varied stories behind the contents and acquired that elusive skill in helping each and every customer find just what they were looking for, even if they didn’t know it.

In addition, Jenny set up a Facebook page to document the amazing vintage and retro items she came across in the shop, with good friend Ibolya Feher providing the beautiful photography that really captures the feel of the building and its contents.

To continue Gillian's legacy and her passion was the start of many ideas and much excitement for Jenny as well as the many people she met met during her time at the shop and previous customers now talented designers!  After a lot of work tackling the mountain of beautiful vintage stock, both on display and in storage (filling six rooms over two floors) and rescuing whatever she could, Jenny has found surprises at every step including gorgeous pieces of vintage lingerie, war time safari shorts and even a pair of early machine-knit gloves.  The collection she’s looking after is amazing and she’s still finding hidden gems.

She’s going to blog about some of the favourite collections she’s found so far, so do follow her on the next stage of her journey with Clifton Hill Antique Costume & Textiles.  Until the store opens this summer you can catch Jenny at regular vintage markets and by appointment, but why not come and meet her at our Fair.  She’s taking time off from cataloguing these delights to present some gorgeous dresses to give you a taste of what’s available.  There’ll be vintage lingerie, nightwear and an unbelievable array of items for dressing up, available to hire.  Don’t miss this.  It’s a chance to see history.