New In!

September is here! The holidays are over and everyone is back and raring to go. September is a time to re-evaluate your wardrobe, pack away your summer outfits (boohoo) and curate your Autumn pieces.  We think Vintage Modes is the perfect spot to start your fashion spree and with September's London Fashion Week also on the horizon, you need to be belle of the ball!

If you haven't heard already - we have been running a competition to win a £50 gift voucher to spend at Vintage Modes - today is the last day! All you have to do is sign up to our mailing list here to be in with the chance of winning.

To give you a taster of the luscious items you could buy at Vintage Modes, here's a selection of new in pieces available at the moment...  

Art Deco style diamante necklace, c1970s, from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery

Statement lucite necklace with large patterned cut ball and gold tassel, from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery

Chunky clear lucite cut ring, from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery

Vintage snake bangle, from Unicorn

Art Deco Czech glass necklace, from Unicorn

c1950s embroidery scissors in hand embroidered pouch, from Unicorn

Vintage Green Grape Drop Earrings, from Arabella Bianco

Vintage 9ct Gold Diamond Cut Knot Earrings, from Arabella Bianco

Vintage 1950s Art Deco Style Yellow Plastic Necklace, from Arabella Bianco

Peter Robinson 1970s dress, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes

1920s silk bolero, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes

All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

Own your own Norman Hartnell

With the Queen's imminent birthday celebrations, we are highlighting one of Her Majesty's favourite fashion designers; Norman Hartnell (1901-1979). Hartnell came to prominence when he gained the Royal Warrant as dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1940 after designing the famous 'White Wardrobe' (photographed by Cecil Beaton) in the late 1930s, which changed the Queen Mother's image forever. These elegant Norman Hartnell gowns were worn on a royal visit to France, aimed at strengthening Anglo-French ties. The French press praised the demeanour and charm of the King and Queen during the successful visit, augmented by Hartnell's wardrobe.

A Hartnell gown designed for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the 1930s, part of “The White Wardrobe".

Hartnell went on to design gowns for the two most important occasions in the Queen's life: her wedding and her coronation. Six years after Hartnell designed Queen Elizabeth’s sumptuous wedding dress in 1947, he was commissioned to design the coronation gown - the iconic dress of the mid-twentieth century - and Maid of Honour gowns. It took eight months of research, design and workmanship to make the intricate embroidery of the coronation gown. The Queen was so pleased with the outcome that afterwards Hartnell began to exclusively create her entire wardrobe and produced many of her finest evening dresses. Hartnell gained the Royal Warrant as dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth II in 1957.

Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown. The crystal and seed pearl roses, wheat sheafs and leaves embellishment took 350 seamstresses seven weeks to complete.

The Coronation Gown: The dress was to be an historic masterpiece befitting the occasion.

Dress by Norman Hartnell worn by Queen Elizabeth II to Princess Margaret's wedding, 1960.

Hartnell was a major personality in the world of fashion;  known for glamorous evening clothes, Hartnell's meteoric rise to fame resulted in London becoming a centre of style that closely rivaled Paris. Decades of achievement were rewarded with a Knighthood in 1977. He became known as ‘The First Fashion Knight’, and is one of only four British designers to have ever been knighted.

The largest display of the Queen's dresses and accessories, including Hartnell's designs, will open to the public later this month to mark the monarch's 90th birthday. The exhibition - Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from the Queen's Wardrobe - is to be held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her Scottish home in Edinburgh on April 21.

However, if you long for a highly sought after Norman Hartnell piece of your own, then look no further. June Victor at Vintage Modes, Grays, has a covetous collection of Hartnell finery on offer, as mentioned in the Evening Standard below. June is also based at sister centre Alfies Antique Market.

Rose pink silk velvet matching dress jacket trimmed with beading, late 1950s early 1960s, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 

Stunning 1950s black silk velvet couture dress with matching jacket trimmed with lace embellish, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 

1960s Bugle beaded cocktail dress, offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 

1950s silk crepe outfit, beaded trim and mink cuffs,  offered by June Victor at Vintage Modes 

Rare 1950s vintage flower and drop Norman Hartnell necklace, offered by Arabella Bianco

All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

A Vintage Wedding

The wedding season is nigh! For those of you planning a wedding day full of romantic nostalgia and vintage fun, take inspiration from the unique vintage wedding dresses and accessories available at Vintage Modes. 

Buying vintage is one of the best ways to recycle, you are doing your bit to help the earth.  You will also stand out of the crowd and make a statement in your own style - you’ll never see someone else wearing the same dress, and they were often made with superior expertise. Not only that, it has a past life and evokes nostalgia; it is simply fascinating to wonder whose life each piece was a part of before it became a part of yours. 

A vintage themed wedding strays from the bores of the conventional ceremony, so whether your special day will be set against a rustic farm yard backdrop, or will be a more glamorous 1950s tea party affair, there is something appropriate for everyone amid the rails of wonderful finds at Vintage Modes.  

1930s satin beaded wedding dress, available from June Victor

1960s wedding dress, available from June Victor

1960s wedding dress, available from Arabella Bianco

1950s circular floral hat, available from June Victor

Small vintage veil, available from June Victor

Vintage gold Roberto Vianni sandals, available from June Victor

Charles Jourdan French mules, available from June Victor

Bruno Magli gold slingbacks, available from June Victor

Vintage tiara, available from Arabella Bianco

Crystal necklace, available from June Victor

Long faux pearl and white metal necklace, c1920s, available from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery 

1980s faux fur jacket, offered by Arabella Bianco

All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

Oscars 2016: Red Carpet Style

After an exciting lead-up and much speculation, this year's Oscars ceremony finally took place last night, Sunday, 28 February. However, we are not only discussing Leonardo Dicaprio's win, or Sylvester Stallone's loss here at Vintage Modes, we have also noted 2016's red carpet style. This year is all about the bling! Diamonds, diamonds and more diamonds! 

Alicia Vikander, Cate Blanchett and Kerry Washington in diamonds on the red carpet.

For those of you who would like to capture that trend, Vintage Modes have a fantastic array of diamante jewellery and accessories.

Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery's wonderful diamante jewellery.

Vintage silver tone choker necklace, encrusted with faceted black and
clear diamantes. From Arabella Bianco.

Vintage silver tone diamante necklace in a beautiful swag design, from Arabella Bianco.

Of course we mustn't forget the gowns either..!

Bellville Sasoon 2 piece skirt and top, from June Victor.

1960s beaded chiffon dress. From June Victor.

1950s Lizzi Line ballgown. From June Victor.

All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London.  Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk

Combat the Blue Monday Blues!

To fight off the Blue Monday gloom, we've used it as inspiration to find our most colourful pieces in store at Vintage Modes. Here are our favourites..

Vintage Red Lucite Bangle with Silver Confetti Stars, from Arabella Bianco.

1970s print dress, from June Victor.

Salmon pink vintage clip on earrings with studs, from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.

Colourful vintage scarf, from Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.

Vintage turquoise plastic earrings by Kenneth Lane, set with sparkling rhinestones
in gold tone metal. From Arabella Bianco.

Pavone dog clip-on earrings, made from old Galalith and polished. From Gillian Horsup Vintage Jewellery.

Studded perspex Pelican earrings. Modernist with studs. From Unicorn.

And don't forget, we're offering 15% off in January when you sign up to our mailing list this month. Sign up here: ow.ly/X2WmR

All items posted are for sale. If you have any queries please leave a comment or visit us at Grays in Mayfair, London Alternatively you can call us on 020 7409 0400 or email info@vintagemodes.co.uk