Short Film About York - 'Undressing the Viking'

In one of the last days of Summer 2012, I had the opportunity to be an extra in short film about York called Undressing the Viking.  It tells the story to two friends, one who's a bit hippie and romantic and one who quite rocky and modern, as they discuss their dream ways to spend a day in York.  The film was made by Parashoots, who also made the rather brilliant York 800 film.

I took part in the scene where the hippie lady describes her dream party.  Basically my role was to be a guest at a party at Gray's Court, and drink Pimms.  My acting abilities just about stretched to that!  It was a beautiful evening, sunny and warm, and when it got dark we set off Chinese lanterns - which look magical in the film.  I must add that we tied nylon thread to the lanterns and they were all pulled back and extinguished after we'd finished filming! 

So, here's the final film!

I'm in it at around 2:33, I'm quite chuffed with being a guest at someone's dream party!  You might notice that when hippie lady gets to the party she changes into a purple vintage dress, I got to see it close up - it was beautiful.

The film also features lots of other cool shops and venues in York - so if you live here, or are planning a visit, you might get some ideas for fun things you can do around the city.

A Beginner's Guide to Vintage Shopping - What's Your Era?

If you ever wondered what is and isn’t vintage – there doesn’t seem to be a 'definitive' answer.  Some people say vintage ends in the 1990s and some might tell you that it ends in the 1970s, with the 1980s and 1990s classed as retro.

When you first start getting into the vintage scene, it’s often a good to get an idea what eras you like and start building up your wardrobe from there.  If you like a certain style for what ever reason - such as your favourite film or TV programme is set during those times, you love the music, or just feel you belong in that decade, then that’s a good start.

Of course you don’t have to go full on into that era dress up everyday (although it’s fun to do that!) if that's not you.  You can always wear touches of it, like vintage jackets and accessories with modern items.  Plus, why stick to one era?  I have pieces in my wardrobe spanning from the 1920s to the 1990s.  It’s simply about what you feel comfortable in and enjoy wearing. 

   

You might find it difficult to source clothes from some decades - simply because a lot of clothes haven’t survived. I find 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s are the easiest decades to find clothes from, but if you like the look of earlier eras but can’t find the clothes you can always go for replica clothing. A few vintage stalls at our events sell beautiful replica dresses, and they’re not always brand new. Fashion is cyclical and many styles keep coming back into fashion. For example this lovely 1940s style tea dress in the photo on the right, probably dates from the 1980s, so you can get a 1940s look and still be buying retro second hand clothing.

Also, if you've been in the high street stores lately, vintage style clothing is very fashionable at the moment.  There are loads of items in 50s style prints, 60s Mod styles, and 70s Bohemian styles on offer.  These can be teamed them up with a beautiful vintage silk scarf or some retro jewellery to give them a more authentic vintage feel. How about buying a vintage handbag from one of our stalls to go with your outfit?  One of the great things about vintage handbags is they have a pocket in them for a cigarette case – which is the exact size of a modern day smart phone!  

Don't forget we're still on the look out for the 'Face of Yorkshire Does Vintage' for our next issue of our magazine in the Spring.  So the next time you come to one of our events, why not dress up a bit and show off your collection of vintage finery? 

A Beginner's Guide to Vintage Shopping - Size Doesn't Matter!

With York Does Vintage coming on 14 October 2012, and all the other vintage events we've got planned on the horizon, I'm sure a lot of reader of this blog will forward to doing some vintage shopping. 

But when it comes to vintage clothes shopping, where do you start?  If you're interested in vintage fashion, are new to the scene, or simply would like some tips then hopefully this guide will be of some use to you.

Size Doesn't Matter

The first thing you should be aware of when shopping for vintage clothes is that size doesn't matter!  In fact modern clothes sizes are not the same as vintage ones.  Over the last 25 years dress sizes have decreased.  So, if you're a modern size 14, chances are you'll be a vintage size 16 and so on.

Therefore, don't be disheartened if at one of our events you try a dress on in your modern size and it doesn't fit - it's probably just the wrong size.  Keep in mind that in all likelihood they'll be another item for sale in the right size that will fit and make you look fabulous. 

Also, the shape of women has changed over the last 60 years.  A recent report revealed that in the 1950s the average woman's measurements (in inches) were 37-27-39, where as today they're 40-34-40.  This means that the average 1950s woman was around a modern size 12-14, or a vintage size 14-16.

Bare in mind that the 50s measurements are only an average, not an ideal, and women in the past were probably this shape due to less home conveniences when it came to the housework, less car ownership, and having lived through WWII food rationing (which didn't fully end until 1954).  What this does mean though if you're shopping for vintage clothes is you'll need to be aware in the past more people will have bought the clothes in average sizes, giving these sizes more of a chance of surviving the decades.  However, even if you are an average size, sometime things won't fit due to the cut of them. 

All this is why it's so important you try on vintage clothes before you buy them!  If you can't try things on then know your measurements and take a tape measure.  If you're not sure about measuring yourself, a good tip is to measure your own clothes that you know fit you around the bust, waist and hips and use those as a guide when measuring vintage clothes.

Above all though, when buying vintage clothing - have fun.  Try on a few things, get an idea of what styles suit you and what fits your shape best.  That way you'll be bound to find vintage clothes that are perfect for you.

Exciting News for York Does Vintage!

Yorkshire Does Vintage - the Magazine!

Yes, that's right, Yorkshire Does Vintage has got a fab free magazine coming out that will be available at our York Does Vintage event on Sunday 14th October.

You can see the beautiful front cover on the left, which gives you a bit of a teaser as to some of the things inside.  I've seen the mag, and I know I'm not impartial, but I'll tell you that it really is a rather good! There's instructions on how to get a glamorous vintage look stage by stage, a baking section, a street style section looking at what the people on the streets of York have been wearing, and much, much more.

So, if you'd like a copy, then pick one up from the front desk next week.

We've already planning the next issue, and (this is very exciting!), we're looking for someone to appear on the front cover as "The Face of Yorkshire Does Vintage".  So if you love vintage and would like to represent us by being on the front cover of the Spring issue, then get in touch with us via our Facebook page - or better yet come and introduce yourself to us at one of our events.

York Does Vintage Craft Workshops

We like to bring a bit of variety to our free craft workshops, and at York Does Vintage next week, we've got the Jewellery Channel presenter, Louise Jakobsen from Capricorn Creations.

She'll be demonstrating how to make two ring.  The first one is this swirl pearl one on the right, which you can make for FREE.  The other one a cluster ring can be made at the cost of only £1. So, if you've ever fancied having a go at making your own rings, then book a place on one of the workshop.

The workshops for Louise Jakobsen rings will run as follows:-

11:00am - 11:45am, 
12:15pm - 1:00pm 
1:30pm - 2:15pm 
2:45pm - 3:30pm 
4:00pm - 4:45pm

If you'd like to book a place then email us at nowandthenevents@gmail.com

York Does Vintage's Photo Booth!

And if the magazine, the jewellery making and all our regular stalls hasn't got you excited enough for next week, we've also got a fun photo booth in operation courtesy of Moon Booth.  Get your photo taken in a vintage style, maybe after having a vintage make over, or even wearing the some of the vintage items you've purchased.

Hope to see you all there on Sunday 14th October 2012 at the Merchants Adventures Hall from 10:30am to 5pm.  It's going to be quite a day!

Vintage Events Coming Soon!

If you like our events and want to know where we for the rest of the year, here's some dates for your diary.

York Does Vintage, Sunday 14th October 2012 - Merchant Adventurers Hall.  York Does Vintage has a huge array of vintage items on offer, think crockery, furniture, vintage prints, kitchenalia, homewares, jewellery, accessories - THE LOT!
If vintage isn't quite your thing but good food, dancing and workshops are, then you are still in for a treat. Pop along to our signature tearoom - serving the very best cakes, cupcakes, scones, try your hand (or feet should we say) at lindy-hop dancing, get pampered at our beauty bar, dabble in the vintage inspired workshops and let your children get creative at our children's corner!

Harrogate Does Vintage, Saturday 10th November 2012 - Harrogate Theatre.  Yes, were back at beautiful Harrogate Theatre in November.  We love bringing our events to this beautiful spa town, and we'll have all the things you love about our Harrogate fairs from homeware to fashion and jewellery.

Newcastle Does Vintage, Saturday 17th November 2012 - Theatre Royal, Grey Street. Expect gorgeous vintage stalls brimming with sparkles, lace, chiffon - clothes, accessories, vintage art, homewares, kitchenalia, crockery, prints, vinyl, sweets - you name we have it!

We like to complement our vintage occasions with activities and features fit for all types of folk and ages! Vintage inspired workshops, instant photo-booths, lindy-hop free fun dance workshops, hair and beauty bar, style competitions and a vintage tombola with lots of great goodies!

 Durham Does Vintage, Saturday 24th November 2012 - Durham Town Hall.  Expect glamorous vintage stalls stocked up with Christmas vintage goodies, deluxe beauty bar, workshops, signature vintage tearoom, dancing, competitions and a gorgeous children's corner!

A great event for all ages and to grab some fabulously unique crimbo pressies! 

If all this wasn't enough, in December we have York Does Vintage on Sunday 2nd December 2012 at Merchant Adventurers Hall and Masham Does Vintage on Saturday 8th December 2012, at Masham Town Hall.  More details on these events to be announced, but a great places to do some Christmas shopping.  I'm sure we'll also be added some special Christmas touches to the events.  Check back here or visit our Facebook or Twitter page for more info.

Plus, don't forget we're still running our competition to win a style vintage hamper when we get 700 likes on Facebook.

Win a vintage style hamper!

Just like like and share the pic of Cliff and you'll be in for a chance of winning.  As it stands this morning we only need another 21 likes to make it to the 700!  Good luck, and hope to see you at one of our events very soon.

The Sixties Exhibiton at York Castle Museum

 

Hope you're all getting excited about the return of York Does Vintage on Sunday 14th October 2012!

If you can't wait and want to do something vintage between now and then, then why not go to the Sixties exhibition at the Castle Museum?  If you've got a York Card, you can get in for free.

They have some fab clothes on display from the era, like these 60s dresses.

The one on the left is a printed cotton dress with matching coat from 1969, that was donated to the museum by the owner who bought it as her going away outfit. The dress on the right is a printed nylon dress from 1968

And to go along with dresses are some very cool boots, accessories  and 60s make-up!





There's a good collection of 60s memorabilia.  Lots of items connected with music, a working jukebox, books, and toys.

Also the exhibition play homage to 60s TV with clips of programmes and news reels you can select to watch.  An early episode of Doctor Who staring William Hartnell is one of the things you you can view.

Another highlight of the exhibition is this Mod scooter and Parka on display.

So, if you like the 60s, then it's definately worth getting over the the Castle Museum for a look.

I will say I did find it a bit strange (in a good way!) looking at items that for me are so familiar on display in a museum in glass cases.  The clothes especially, because at our events there are often items not too dissimilar to the ones you can see in the pictures above for sale.  But then that's the point of the Castle Museum, it shows how ordinary people lived in the past and they are preserving items from this era for the future.