If you’re on the look out for a John Smedley bargain, there’s only one place to head – the John Smedley factory sale.
As you’d expect, it’s on at the John Smedley factory or more specifically, the Lea Mills Factory, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5AG. It’s on over the weekend of April 5th and 6th and prices will start at just £10 – so make sure you have plenty of boot space.
View the current range at the John Smedley website
Via Retro To Go
Summer holidays – they’ll come round sooner than you think – and when they do, you’ll be glad you invested in a good pair of sunglasses. Like these Oliver Goldsmith Strand sunglasses.
Dating back to 1962 and with a classic Wayfarer look (despite pre-dating them by 10 years), this pair is hand-made in Japan with a dark tortoiseshell frame, Carl Zeiss lenses and hypoallergenic hinges.
And they’re sold with a hard case, cloth bag and box. Yours for £189.99.
The famous London brand of the sixties is still in full swing with new lines coming thick and fast. New for Spring there’s a number of pieces from Biba available at London fashion store Brown’s.
Among them is this printed cotton mini dress. I get the feeling this print will be a case of love it or loathe it, but I’m sitting in the former camp. There’s also some wonderful retro woolens and accessories available online or from the London Brown’s store itself.
This dress will set you back £245, which is at least slightly less than most vintage Biba is fetching these days.
The high street’s currently brimful of a mishmash of retro inspirations and modern takes, but tucked away among the often hit and miss clothing are some cute accessories. This selection, from Topshop, is quirky and sweet. My favourite item is the dog walker brooch, a nice one off that’s bound to attract compliments too.
Keep an eye out for lots of 50s-inspired corsage bracelets to pep up any retro prom dress too.
Remember those chains of sweets you could wear round your neck as a child? Well, here’s one you can’t eat – unless you want to lose your teeth in the process.
The Candy Necklace is based on that childhood sweet, but replaces the hard sugary blocks with something of more value – gold and silver plated ‘candy’. Is the chain still a piece of cheap elastic? We can’t tell for sure, but we suspect it’s that or a piece of cotton.
Either way, it’s available online from the ever-creative Atypyk, priced at 85 Euros, which is around £60.
Searching for the perfect cover-up to compliment a fifties style ensemble? Rather than bunging on your usual jacket over a fantastic swing dress, why not enhance it with this great retro bolero from LA designers Voom?
Available at Dollydagger, this polka dot wrap is reversible, made from silk and looks great. Perfect for adding spark to a plain outfit, or providing some cover from the chill come Spring.
Available in two colours, this designer piece will set you back £90. Pricey, but it won’t be losing its style any time soon.
