Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair returned to Bournemouth on Sunday 2nd March 2014, and was greeted by people of all different age groups queuing to get through the doors as they opened at 11am. If you were willing to thrift through the endless railings of clothing and stalls of home ware, there were plenty of bargains to be found.
With such a wide selection of vintage available: from swing dresses, to multi-coloured bomber jackets, to old-fashioned typewriters and board games, to hand sewn satchels; the stalls were clearly the main attraction of the day. But Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair hasn’t been awarded the best in the UK for nothing, as it does much more to set the vintage atmosphere. The Piccadilly Hotel provided a Tea Party, all served on intricate vintage cup and saucer sets, whilst the Scarlet Swing ladies serenaded the shoppers with all the classics. Sharon and Gloria Holloway, from The Vintage Hair Lounge, had fully booked appointments all day for their vintage style makeovers. Nicky Newport, who had her hair and make-up done in 1950’s style by the ladies, said: “I enjoyed just being pampered… I wasn’t sure what it would be like but it was a nice surprise when I looked in the mirror, so amazing.”
Although many of the vintage garments had higher price tags, most of the vintage traders did offer a student discount when you purchased more than one item, and there were a selection of items priced at only £5. Juliette Duckworth, from Juliette’s Threads, said: “There are always a lot of students looking for a unique purchase,” and it was no different this time around with students picking up hanger upon hanger of vintage clothing and splashing their student loan. Wayne Stocks, from Mooch Vintage, said: “Vintage is definitely having more of an impact on high-street fashion.” So why spend your money in Topshop and River Island when you can find something no one else has in the rails at a vintage fair?
Student Street Style
I asked a few student shoppers what their biggest vintage bargain was in their Vintage Fair outfits:
Biggest Bargain: This unique Warner Brothers embroidered jacket adds an even more quirky edge to her outfit. Teamed with the floral trousers, the casual denim makes this look perfect for the transition in to spring. Her jacket was bought at Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair last year for only £25.
Biggest Bargain: This monochrome outfit which successfully incorporates checks is spot on trend for the coming season. All her items of clothing were vintage, apart from the necklace, so it is definitely worth looking for vintage takes on the current trends. Her shoes were her biggest bargain at under £15 for the pair.
Biggest Bargain: This grunge layered look was not only the answer in the windy weather outside, but it is also spot on winter trends. However the incorporation of a patterned shirt helps move the outfit into spring. This shirt was £10 from a charity shop, but it’s very similar to the vintage shirts that were on offer at Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair.
Biggest Bargain: With plenty of Levi jeans scattering the fair, in all different shades of denim, it wasn’t long before I found someone sporting the trend. ‘Mom jeans’ have been extremely popular in high-street stores such as Topshop recently, but Lou Lou’s offered the original baggy jean in bulk. This girl sticks to winter hues, but teams the jeans with converse and stripes for a laid back vibe. At a bargain of only £15, they were a lot cheaper than high street brands.
Biggest Bargain: These bold tartan trousers and statement jewelled necklace (both vintage) are soothed by the smart beige coat. Real cashmere wool and at only £3 this was the biggest bargain of the day.
The queue to get into the Pavilion Theatre remained for more than an hour after opening, clearly showing that Bournemouth has plenty of vintage lovers. Wayne Stocks explained: “Not everyone always visits the vintage fairs in search of a purchase; in some of the cities it’s more about curiosity.” So with the next Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair visiting Bournemouth on the Sunday 8th June 2014, why not head down there and grab some bargains for yourself.
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