It's A Brand New Year

Happy New Year to one and all! We've had a tremendous break over the holidays at The Vintage Fair, but it's back to business with our first fair of the season on 26th January at Sheffield Town Hall. And if, like me, the High Street sales have let you down this year then you're in luck! Because our first fair in Sheffield is a sale special! Vintage bargains as far as the eye can see, I can't wait!


So while we are feeling thrifty, I've gathered the best vintage and kooky sale bargains that are still out there online for you to snap up! My Top Ten starts with the forward thinking sale shopper, it'll be warmer before you know it and don't forget, It's Always Summer Somewhere.

 White Crochet angel sleeve dress/tunic from Bang Bang. Now is the time to bag style statements for S/S13, when they're on sale! Add a big tan floppy hat and tribal flats for a 70s boho look. Oh and at 40% off? Lovely.

 A site with an interesting selection of vintage, Lovely's Vintage Emporium brings us a tritone 70s suede skirt. It may not be to everyone's taste, but the styling really caught my eye, I love the autumnal colours, and I doubt they'll disappear from next season either.  Down from £79 to £20.

Tatty Devine are a firm fave! I adore this Parakeet necklace, it's only the medium sized one but it's definitely still a statement piece down from £60 to £40. The sale has a tonne of great perspex jewelry so I suggest you go and have an online rummage. 

It's still bloody freezing. So grab a cape! We love capes at The Vintage Fair and this full length neutral one will see you into those chilly Spring days and at £33 (was £65) Rokit have a winner.

Classic print, classic shape. Sales are the time to invest in pieces that won't date as well as to buy those crazier numbers at a more affordable price. Vi Nouveau have this polka dot dress on sale at £18 (was £24). Can't argue with that. 

So I mentioned "crazier numbers" and it's this sort of thing from Topshop that I'm talking about! Persoanlly loving the red version of this feather capelet, and at £15 I love it even more. I wouldn't be caught paying £45  for such a whimsy but at the sale price I could definitely be persuaded...

Agent Provocateur stockings for £10 anybody? I know right?

J Crew are a label known for simplicity in their cuts and colouring. This shirt dress would be at home in any rockabilly, 40s or hippy girl's wardrobe. Now, it still rolls in at £95 but thats nearly half price! Originally it was £190, call it an investment.

Collectif are my absolute favourite repro brand. I've been after a leopard print fur coat for quite some time and this is perfect. It's a fairly small discount, from £90 down to £70 but once again, an investment for any vintage vixen. And it's started snowing so get caught in the bad weather looking glam!

If you're more of a grungy vintage lover but can't stand the fusty vintage grandad jumpers then hop to the Urban Outfitters sale. Over there this Owl beauty is on sale at £20 alongside a load of other similar retro inspired pieces of knitwear. But let's face it, owls aren't going anywhere.

Did you get any vintage bargains over the festive sale season? If so, send us a pic! We love to hear from you. And you lot based in South Yorkshire, see you in Sheffield on Janury 26th! xxx

Gina x

The Sheffield Vintage Fair

Oh the weather outside was chilly, 

People buying presents willy nilly,

But at The Vintage Fair we were there,

With clothes and cake and vintage homeware(s)!

Call me a poet, eh? Well, The Sheffield Vintage Fair was brimming with Christmas cheer this weekend. We had a tea party laden with brandy cream, mince pies, hot chocolate and glittery cupcakes as well as some festive singing by little old me! 

I found a few very special items at our Sheffield Fair, my favourites were trinkets more than clothes - and believe me, I'm dresses mad - so they must have been good! This 1950s suitcase was designed to carry your dresses perfectly with as little creasing as possible. The tags are still attached and the guide to packing your wardrobe away for the weekend is still inside. Incredible!

 

Next is this beautifully engraved creme rouge set. It was obviously given to Lily as a present in 1942 and the creme rouge is still inside, albeit half used and with a cracked mirror. What a lovely personalised gift. Inspiration for this Christmas's shopping?

And though we always have an array of men and women's vintage clothing and accessories from 40s through to the early 90s, I spotted so many lovely homewares that I had to snap. Starting with this very pretty bird vase, in fact, I'm gutted I didn't buy this now, such a lovely illustration. The photo below shows an original 1950s Elizabeth Arden cosmetics gift set. The balms, lotions and powders are all complete with tags still attached. I assume it must have cost a fortune at the time of purchase, so who knows why it was never used? One more reason I love looking to the past, all of the stories we do know but there are more we never will.

But I wouldn't leave you hanging with no pretty frocks to swoon over! We had walls and walls of vintage dresses hanging for your gazing eyes and mannequins decked in christmas sparkle to get you all inspired for your office party. The black and gold party frock below was high on my wish list, you just can't beat that colour combo for a bit of a knees up.  

And our beauty parlour was booked up all day! Ladies walked away with gorgeous victory rolls to rock on their Saturday nights out. Not to mention the matching make up, you should know by now we're big fans of a bold red lip!

I saw many candy striped bags in customers hands at our fair, which means only one thing! Jewellry and accessories! Whether people were buying for friends and family or for themselves, what does it matter? We had a fantastic variety of jewellry from vintage brooches, watches and earrings to hand made accessories such as perspex necklaces and fascinators and hair clips. 

And sadly (or not, perhaps?!) I didn't manage to get any photos of myself having a sing song, but I will leave you with the wonderful Bing Crosby and his classic, White Christmas. My all time favourite crooner and christmas song. See you in Nottingham next week yes? The last fair of the year for us! Can't wait!

Gina x

The Sheffield Vintage Fair: Grand Old Ukes

We had a double whammy this weekend in Sheffield and in York, keeping it strong and northern. To make sure that all the new Sheffield freshers knew they were definitely in Yorkshire, we had special guests The Grand Old Ukes of Yorkshire entertain the crowds in the Town Hall in our homeland of Sheffield. The Grand Old Ukes are Duncan and Bassy, two of Sheffield's finest musicians (no, really). After queuing up to see them at this years Tramlines festival, I couldn't squeeze in the venue to see them so went and watched a proper band. But you know, whatever. 

We caught up with the boys before their various sets to see what one earth they're all about...


Who are you?
We are The Grand Old Ukes of Yorkshire. Sheffield's second favourite Ukulele band.


OK. So what do you actually do?
We play all your guilty pleasures, think TLC, Celine Dion, B*Witched, now think Ukulele, and 
finally think Yorkshire and you'll be pretty near! We also run Team Building days which are great
 fun! You can find out more about those at our website which is hidden within this sentence. 


Why Ukuleles of all the instruments in all the world?

Why Ukuleles? It was all we could afford! Plus, Bassy has gout so any instrument where you
need to use your feet is out.

Our customers are stylish folk, what will you be wearing to The Vintage Fair?

We will probably be wearing our self promotional band tour t-shirts. The tour dates only go up to
 May 2012, so that counts as retro right? Aside from finding clean trousers/sarongs we will 
DEFINITELY be wearing Marks and Spencer underwear. There is no alternative for comfort,
 support and style.

Here are the boys in action...are you quite ready?

You can find out more by following the boys on Facebook and chatting to them on twitter @Grandoldukes1

Do you want to entertain the vintage loving crowds at any of our fairs? Get in touch...

info@thevintagefair.com

x

Teatime Vintage: Chocolate Guinness Cake

Sheffield will be in luck on Saturday, that's for sure! But even if you're not based up north you'll be able to get a taste of what is on offer from Teatime Vintage with one of their favourite recipes. Retro aprons on? Check. Hair under silk scarves? Yup. Red lippy intact? Well, for now...let's bake!

Having the opportunity to host the Sheffield Vintage Fair Tea Parties is a complete thrill for us here at Teatime Vintage.  Planning the menu, baking the cakes, dressing the tables, using our gorgeous vintage china collection and serving our lovely vintage-loving customers all add to the fun.

We like to use seasonal locally produced ingredients whenever possible. And so, this time round we’ll be using the last of the late Summers berries alongside the richer spicier flavours of ginger and cinnamon more representative of Autumn.  Thankfully, chocolate NEVER goes out of season!

In addition to the standard tea party issue cupcakes – as lovely as they are - we will again be bringing a selection of layer cakes – elderflower and lemon drizzle, carrot and ginger,  rose and pistachio - our signature mini-Victoria Sponges, and of course our retro sweet bar.

Despite not being the most traditional of tea party offerings, one cake that will definitely be making a return appearance will be the much loved  Chocolate Guiness Cake. It is possibly the most dense and rich chocolate cake you will ever get the pleasure to taste, balanced out with a cream cheese topping. What’s not to love?  Want to have a go at making it yourself?  Marvellous.  It’s easy- peasy so get your sleeves rolled up and get stuck in!

For the cake
· 250 ml Guinness 
· 250 grams unsalted butter 
· 75 grams cocoa powder 
· 400 grams caster sugar 
· 142 ml sour cream 
· 2 medium eggs 
· 1 tablespoon(s) vanilla extract 
· 275 grams Plain flour 
· 2.5 teaspoon(s) bicarbonate of soda 
For the topping
· 300 grams cream cheese 
· 150 grams Icing sugar 
· 125 ml double cream (or whipping cream) – we always use double cream

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees celcius and butter and line (put a disc or greaseproof paper to cover the bottom of your tin)  a round 23cm tin – if you have a springform tin (the ones where the bottom detaches from the sides) then your life will be much easier when you come to getting your cake out of the tin.

Put the Guinness and butter into a large wide saucepan and heat gently. Once the butter has melted whisk in the cocoa and sugar.  Beat the sour cream, eggs and vanilla extract together before adding to the pan then whisk in the flour and bicarbonate of soda.

 And that’s your cake batter made - it really is that simple!

Pour the cake batter into your prepared tin and bake for between 45 mins and an hour – I check after 45 mins by inserting a skewer (or knife) into the centre of the cake, if it comes out clean then your cake is ready. Leave to cool completely in the tin on a cooling rack.  If you try to remove the cake from the tin before it is completely cool then you risk it breaking up as it is such a very moist cake.

To make the topping, whip the cream cheese unit it is creamy and smooth.  Sieve the icing sugar onto the cream cheese and beat them together.  Add the cream and beat again until the mixture is thick enough to spread.  Spread onto the top of the cake using a pallet knife to form soft peaks so that it resembles the froth of a pint of lovely creamy Guinness.

Now pour yourself a cuppa, congratulate yourself on your baking brilliance, and enjoy a huge slab of your homebaked cake.  Delicious!

Hoping to see you on Saturday at our Vintage Tea Party!