Thrifty Ethical Fashion For Mother’s Day

Posted on March 19, 2012 by admin

This months challenge at Ethical Fashion Bloggers was to create a thrifty outfit which cost under £10 or as close as possible. At first this seemed like quite a difficult challenge but on looking in my wardrobe, I realised that I have quite a few clothes including this dress and belt which I have got from clothes swaps, so technically cost me nothing at all (except an old piece of clothing that I wouldn’t have worn anyway). The shoes were a little more tricky and ideally I should have worn a more glamorous pair of heels, but because of the distance I needed to walk and the fact that none of my ethical shoes are exactly thrifty, I decided to opt for this pair of ballet pumps, given to me by a friend (brand new,but she decided they didn’t fit her. The handbag was the most expensive at about £4 from a charity shop and the necklace which isn’t ethical or sustainable but I have had it ages and it only cost maybe £6 or £7.So I think in total my outfit cost about £10 or £11.

As it was Mother’s Day, I decided to take the opportunity to spend a little more time doing my hair and to attempt to set it in curlers for a retro hairstyle. This was a big fail, I got impatient and took the rollers out before my hair was properly dry hence the flat an uncharacteristically sleek look to it. In the end I couldn’t be bothered to faff with it any more and decided to get out and enjoy myself.

I took my oldest daughter to a cafe in Bath for lunch and then had a wander around Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fashion fair. The fair was disappointingly quiet with only about 10 stalls, but I did manage to get myself a lemon yellow sixties jacket and checked skirt for £2 each though and some vintage fabrics, so not a complete loss. Here are a few instagrams of my day.

I hope you had a lovely weekend!

With warmest wishes

Ceri x

Ethical Fashion Events in March

Posted on March 1, 2012 by admin

Ethical Fashion Show, Paris, 2nd -4th March

A celebration of ethical fashion with designers showing collections including chic, traditional and streetwear. To be held at Espace Pierre Cardin. For further information and to get a free ticket visit www.ethicalfashionshow.com.

Keen Green and Ethical Trade Market at Old Spitalfields, London, Every Tue & Wed from 5th March

Keen Green have been been running ethical markets for a number of years and from 5th March will be having a regular slot at old Spitalfields Market. There will be ethically traded arts, crafts, clothing, jewellery and home furnishings together with fair trade, organic, free range, traceable and homemade local and regional foods. Unique goods from countries
such as Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, India, and South America contrasting with those from the UK, made with exceptional workmanship.

Eco Fashion and Clothes Swap Day, Crediton, Devon, 10th March

a Clothes swap with free demonstrations and advice throughout the day on sewing, updating, repairing, knitting and spinning. Further details on www.sustainablecrediton.org.uk.

Afro Eco Fair II, ITS Academy London, Saturday 10th March

A quarterly fair dedicated to ethical and Afro beauty/fashion in London. This event is presented by a collective of creatives among them: Christelle KEDI (ethical make up artist/commentator), Light of Marie (Ethical Accessory designer).Entrance is free, 12-7pm ITS Academy, Great Eastern Street, London. For further info email c.kedi@knowledgefountain.co.uk.

Ethical Fashion Symposium, 03 Gallery, London, 9th – 11th March

The Ethical Fashion Symposium will take place in collaboration with Oxford Fashion Week. It will include a series of talks on the subject of ethical fashion by a diverse panel of ethical pioneers – from academics to stylists and artisans. Tickets cost £5 each, further details here.

Vintage Fashion Fair London, Primrose Hill, 18th March

The perfect way to spend Mother’s Day (with either your mother or daughter) browsing the beautiful vintage clothing and accessories as one of London’s most well established Vintage Fashion Fairs. Why not also treat yourself to tea and cake at the Pretty Green Cafe. For the first 20 Mums who are brought to the fair by their daughters/sons there will be a treat awaiting them of handmade chocolates! For further details and ticket offers visit www.vintagefashionfairlondon.co.uk

Swish and Pout’s Fashion Exchange and Vintage Market, Balham Bowls Club, 31st March

Fashion Exchanges with a Retro Beauty Parlour, Stylist, Cakes & ‘Frocktails’. Alongside all of this there will be a Pop Up Market to satisfy dedicated followers of Vintage fashion. Further details here.

Do you know of any other ethical fashion events going on? if so please let me know.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

The Ethical Fashionistas Diary – February Events

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

There is so much going on with eco and sustainable fashion at the moment, I am struggling to keep up with it all. So I have decided to write a post about it all for February. I may well make this a regular feature provided there is enough interest and enough events to post about, please let me know if you hear about anything interesting relating to sustainable and ethical fashion!

February 9th – Traid Sew Good Workshop – London

Learn to Sew Good with the fashion recycling charity TRAID at monthly workshops held at the TRAID Camden store. Bring a garment you no longer wear, and we’ll give you the skills you need to fix, alter and revive your wardrobe. Workshops will be held on the second Thursday of every month between 6pm and 9pm. Entrance is free but booking is essential email sewgood@traid.org.uk or Tel: 020 7485 5253.

February 15th – Fashion Deconstructed – London

This event is organised by the Christian Aid Collective at a secret London address between 5 and 8pm. It features an underground catwalk which will showcase an array of vintage clothing, along with ethically sourced and upcycled designs by Emma Rees and Feng Ho and jewellery by Caipora. Attendees can also get involved with their own recycled fashion creation, as well as enjoy live graffiti, video installations and beats by Elad. The final details of the event will be posted here.

February 18th – The Good Fashion Show – London

The largest off-schedule event of London Fashion Week which is open to the public as well as trade and press. 100% ethical, sustainable, responsible fashion. 100% style to be held at London House. Tickets for exhibition and markets £5 and for evening fashion show £30. For further information and tickets visit www.thegoodfashionshow.org.

19th February – Vintage Fashion Fair London

One of the longest and most established of the vintage fashion fairs, this event, held in Primrose Hill, is the perfect way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon of browsing. The fair has a great selection of clothing, accessories and textiles from a variety of decades, all sold by friendly and knowledgable stall holders. There are plenty of affordable pieces as well as some really special designer pieces. Checkout the website www.vintagefashionfairlondon.co.uk for further details and ticket offers.

If you also love vintage interiors and homewares, they are also running a fair in Primrose Hill this weekend (Feb 5th), apply through the website with code HOME1 for a free ticket.

The end of February also marks the beginning of Fair Trade Fortnight (27th Feb – 11th March) so keep your eyes out for lots more ethical fashion goings on.

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

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Judy’s Vintage Fashion Fair in Bath

Posted on November 2, 2011 by admin

On Sunday, I was invited along to Judy’s Vintage Fair in Bath. According to the website, Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair runs in 30 UK cities and at 6 major UK festivals. It is the first time that they have visited Bath though. Bath seems to be having so many vintage events going on at the moment. As well as the local vintage shops and markets, there is also a new flea market which I keep meaning to pop along to. I am planning a vintage and second hand guide to Bath very soon - but I digress!

I really like the concept of shopping for vintage clothing at a fair. I don’t have much time for shopping hence why I usually do it on the internet, but with vintage, it can be very difficult to ascertain the fit, quality and condition of a piece of clothing. A vintage fair saves loads of time and allows me access to loads of clothes at the same making the likelihood of finding something that fits and that I like much higher. It also allows me to dart backwards and forwards between stalls comparing items, all part of my completely indecisive, decision making process.

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As the fairs name suggests, there was quite a bit of affordable vintage. I noticed quite a few £10 rails, unfortunately nothing on these rails took my fancy but there was also a good selection of lovely dresses from the sixties and seventies at around the £20 mark. As always it was the more expensive stuff that caught my eye though.

I was pretty much in my element with so many beautiful floral prints, lace dresses and glamorous accessories. I particularly love the fifties dresses .

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There was also trinkets galore which make great Christmas pressies. I managed to pick up a few brooches for the runner up goody bags for next weeks outfit competition.

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If you like bright colours, then this was the perfect stall, I found my self lusting over the yellow tops.

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I would have loved to get my hair and make up done, retro style but as I just had to go home to do the ironing afterwards, it seemed a little extravagant.

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This was my favourite stall, It had so many lovely pieces that I could have bought, if I had brought more cash with me and a really friendly stallholder who I spent ages chatting to. I guess I will never learn, I always need more cash than I think I will (perhaps it is some subconcious frugality going on though).

I finally decided to buy this dress. I love the delicate lace top and chiffon skirt. I think that is Mr Style Eyes work Christmas party outfit sorted, I might even attempt some DIY retro hair and make up.

One of my favourite parts of the fair was seeing all of the amazing outfits that people wore. Unfortunately, I was far too shy to go and ask if I could take photos of them.

Overall this is the best vintage event that I have been to in Bath so far, I really hope they will be coming back again next year.

Do you ever go to vintage fairs? which would you recommend?

With warmest wishes

Ceri X

Vintage Fashion Fair London

Posted on October 2, 2011 by admin

The next Vintage Fashion Fair London will be on 9th October at Cecil Sharp House. I went to the fair back in July and had a great time. I also got a beautiful sixties lace dress. It is ideal for vintage enthusiasts bit also anyone who loves clothes but has never tried vintage before. You don’t have to wear a full vintage outfit (although I think this looks great too), you can easily mix and match vintage with your existing wardrobe. The stallholders are friendly and knowedgable. You can also have your new purchases altered at the fair for that perfect fit, which ideal for anyone like me who procrastinates when it somes to such tasks.

Vintage is the perfect alternative to much of the generic fast fashion that you will see so much of in the shops at the moment. You are likely to find something really different but also really good quality. Many of my vintage pieces of clothing even have neatly hand stitched linings! There are plenty of vintage clothes that fit with many of the current fashions which include styles from the forties, fifties, sixties and seventies. You will no doubt find some great mini dresses, glamorous accessories, silk scarves and seventies maxis plus lots more.

You can find full details of the fair on the website www.vintagefashionfairlondon.co.uk, there is also a limited number of free tickets available from the website.

Marilyn of Vintage Fashion Fair London is also organising an exciting new Vintage Home and Interiors Fair on 16th October at Cecil Sharp House. This is ideal for anyone who loves the shabby chic style or is looking for gifts.