Posh Swaps Blog

First of all I would like to say, car boot sales are uber fun. Not just because you can find amazing one off items for next to nothing, but because if you’re like me on a Sunday morning (usually feeling lazy, hung-over and nursing a sore head) then there really is no better reason to drag yourself out of bed than to nose around other peoples junk.

So last Sunday the 26^th of April the Sun was shining and the people of Carshalton were out in droves. After driving around the boot sale for 45 minutes (trying to park inside was like trying to get into fort knox) we finally found a parking spot and scuttled towards the boot fair. As we hurriedly walked towards the humongous school grounds of St Philomena’s catholic school the first thing I noticed was two women engaged in fisticuffs. Seriously. And it was over a dress it seemed, finger nails and hair tearing galore. This was when I realised this boot sale was going to be special, as the last time I saw this much passion for fashion was at the opening of the Selfridges spring summer sale 08.

 So I stepped over the bloodied boxers and inhaled a huge gulp of air whilst gazing across the fields and fields of bargain buys. Much to my Jaw dropping excitement, it was HUGGGE, like really huge. There were 3 fields of car bootie action. And it really was amazing, with unusual buys going for ludicrously cheap, confirming my theory. Boot fairs ARE every recessionistas dream.

After I had calmed myself down from all the excitement I headed towards the first stand I could focus on and noticed a vintage looking brown jacket. After examining the piece, I realised ok it wasn’t vintage but it was cute, like really cute. So after asking for a price on the jacket I was told “that would be a fiver love”. This was when it got tricky. The bargaining phase. Never one to be put off a touch of haggling (I conquered Pat Pong market in Bangkok don’t you know) I sniggered and put my bargain head on before quipping back “I’ll give you a couple of quid if ya luckie mate” (it’s good to put on an old east end accent at these car boots, gives the impression you’re a bit of a wheeler bargain dealer).

Anyway after much dispute over the value of the blazer we got involved on the finer details and finally agreed on a price of Two English pounds and fifty pennies. Luuuuuverly. So I left with a gem which cost less than my early morning hot dog. This purchased piece was the first of many that day, but it was by far the most expensive. Which taught me a lesson. Start ludicrously low when bargaining, because at these types of events it really does seem fifty pence is a reasonable price for a dress.

 At the end of the day I worked out I had spent £5.50, and I had purchased 2 dresses, 3 jackets and a jumper. Weighing in at roughly 50p per item, it was apparent boot fairs really are the ultimate bargain fest. This particular boot sale was in St Philomena’s in Carshalton, and it takes place once a month. If you fancy a spot of vintage chic on the cheap you can find the monthly dates on the following site.

http://www.stphils.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=90

But remember is just one of many on the London circuit of boot sales, the beauty of these events being clueless souls selling grandmas vintage brooches for 50p a pop. Fabulous.

If searching for a bit of car bootie action then do check out the nationwide listings on www.carbootjunction.com but be warned it is not always 100% accurate. I have often gone searching for car booties which don’t exist (I once drove all the way to Esher to be told the car boot wasn’t on that week) so if you’re looking for a more reliable source of information check out http://www.carbootcalendar.com/. This site is generally very reliable and has an annual subscription magazine costing just £14.00 (a year) which lists all the latest car boot sales across the country monthly. Worth every penny. So next Sunday when you’re feeling lazy get yourself down to your local car boot sale, for the sake of your wallet and your wardrobe.

Finally, for those of you thinking you don’t fancy getting your manolo’s grubby, I would just like to say I once found a vintage Chanel handbag for 5 pounds in a boot sale in Battersea. Yes really. Oh you’re suddenly considering it? So I’ll see you next Sunday?

This post was written by our guest writer

Alice Kelleher is a 24 year old freelance writer often known to be distracted by shiny pretty things. Fresh off the block after just returning from a five month travelling trip around south east Asia, Alice is slightly obsessed with Noodles, and totally obsessed by boys in bands and the latest greatest fads and trends. Currently she is working in a Deli part time (she loves cheese), until she finds a stable job in fashion Journalism/fashion PR.

pictures by Ross Matthews

picture from www.craftstylish.com

How to update an 80’s Prom dress - Threadbanger

This post gives detailed instructions on how to restyle an old prom dress so that it looks really up to date. It also allows a bit of your own creativity for a completely unique prom dress. A great idea if you hahen be ve an old dress packed up in the attic, I also wondered whether this could be applied to an old or second hand wedding dress that could dyed to make a very special prom dress.

a Shrug and Skirt Set out of an Old Sweater - Threadbanger

This is a great way to restyle a sweater. The skirt looks quite short but would look good worn with leggings. The shrug would look great with a vest top or a dress.

Board Shorts out of an old suit - Threadbanger

I love this idea, it could also be adapted to use a floral material, or whatever material you like for some different tailored shorts for the office.

A recycled necktie scarf - Craft Stylish

A great way t recycle old silk ties into a gorgeous scarf. You can pick the patterns / colours for the look that you would like to achieve.

Refashion a boring cardigan - Craft Stylish

This shows how to get a plain and boring cardigan and make it into something really different and unique. I love the colours of the cardigan.

Refashioned Blouse - this mama makes stuff

a great way to turn a shapeless blouse into a more fitted style and adjust the sleeves. This post shows how you can change or customise something if you don’t like it.

Refashioned denim skirt - Burda Style

Add new life to a denim skirt. The frills and paint give it a really up to date and cutting edge feel.

Vintage Lace Tank Top - Into the fray

Yet another great idea for making something very ordinary look special. I love the lace used on this one but you could use whatever trim you like.

Embroidered Hoody - Burda Style

A great way to recycle an old hoody. Again this technique could be used for all sorts of things including t shirts and polo shirts. You can really get creative.

Recycle old jeans into sandals - Wikihow

This video made by the thegreengirls.com shows you exactly what to do to make your old jeans into sandals. A great idea for  an old pair of jeans that has worn out and is no longer wearable.

If you get easily bored of your clothes, join the club. After wearing a particular uniform for a whole season, I am often sick of the sight of it. Even though it is still in perfectly good condition (usually) and not out of fashion. I suppose this is why many people resort to fast fashion for a quick retail fix and a wardrobe refresh.

But I am becoming more and more determined to stick my principles of avoiding fast fashion and  opting for better quality clothes that will not go out of fashion. The problem with spending more money on an item of clothing is that it usually makes me less likely to take risks and instead I always end up with the safe options.

The Solution is clothes swapping. I get the best of both world, a new look with quality clothes, which I find looks much better than cheap clothes anyway. But because I have not spent so  much money, I am more inclined to try out new looks and have a bit of fun with what I am wearing. If the look doesn’t work or I don’t feel great in it, I can always swap it for something else.

I am loving all of the creative and innovative ways that designers are finding to create somthing new from something old. I have just discovered LauraLaura an exciting and affordable new label. It is created by London based designer Laura Hearn. Combining classic styling with vintage twists, LauraLaura’s range of knitwear and accessories is fashion with a conscience - all created from unwanted items.

Born out of a love of trawling car boot sales and markets, LauraLaura is a reaction to disposable fashion - pieces that can be treasured beyond a single season and that breathe new life into otherwise redundant objects.new from old, re-working the unwanted to create captivating clothing and accessories.They source the best second-hand knitwear (always 100% wool) to hand embroider with our thoughts and create unique accessories from the forgotten; fabric remnants wrap old bangles and odd buttons become adorable earrings.

Every piece is truly unique, and with the right care can be treasured for years to come

I love the one shouldered dresses that are in the shops at the moment. I decided to have a go at making one myself using a dress that I bough from a charity shop for £5. It was a fairly easy project and only took an hour or two (not great pictures I am afraid but I hope to invest in a better camera soon). The dress was a navy long/ maxi style with an empire line. This is how I restyled and recycled it into a one shouldered dress.

1. I tried it on and worked out where to cut.

2. I finished the cut edge by turning over twice pressing and sewing.

3. I sewed part of an old scarf along the neckline.

4. I finished the cut edge of the other half of the scarf, tied around the empire line of the dress and secured with a few stitches on each side.

There are endless possibilities for restyling clothes into one shouldered dress or tops. You could embellish with all sorts of ruffles, flowers, patterned or contrasting trims made using a piece of clothing that is no longer wearable.

picture of Style Eyes Fashion Blog

There has been a growing trend for the fashion conscious to seek out different styles of clothing and develop their own unique style instead of following the fashion trends. This includes seeking out clothes that are not available on the high street including handcrafted fashions on websites such as Etsy.com, clothes from unknown and Indie designers, individual boutiques, second hand and vintage clothing. The key to the new eclectic look is not so much about what you wear as how you wear it. This change in consumer behaviour is evident in the decline of the phenonmenas like fast fashion and the ‘IT bag’ and also the decline of sales on the high street. Consumers are becoming less likely to buy a piece of clothing just because of its brand or label. The focus is moving way from looking the same as everyone else to looking different and individual. Spring and summer 2009 is rapidly becoming known amongst fashionistas as the seasons with no trends. Posh-swaps.com actively encourages its readers to develop their own unique style by buying quality second hand clothes that look and feel great and unique one off vintage and restyled recycled second hand clothes. There are a number of possible reasons for the recent change in he focus of fashion, these include

The Recession

Less disposable income means that people need to think carefully about each purchase and how long it will last them. By developing their own personal style, individuals create a timeless wardrobe that does not need to be updated with every change in trend.

Increase in Environmental and Ethical Awareness

Greater publicity of issues like the use of pesticides in growth of cotton and child labour used to manufacture clothes has led to a much greater awareness of these issues. Consumers are becoming more ethically and environmental responsible by buying second hand clothes. Second hand and vintage clothing works particularly well with the eclectic look.

Celebrity Style

Celebrities have led the way in buying vintage clothes and creating their own look. Personalities like Beth Ditto and Dita Von Teese and Kate Moss have been key in developing their own style using a mixture of designer, high street and vintage clothes. People enjoy and are gaining confidence in creating their own styles in the same way. Again second hand clothes are a great way to find affordable, quality clothes to create an individual look.

Greater Choice Through the Internet

The internet has opened up a whole new world of fashion with many buying and selling clothes through ebay and other websites as well as online vintage boutiques offering almost unlimited choice. Posh-swaps.com will offer even more choice of second hand, vintage and restyled recycled clothing with the added benefit of being completely free to use.

Fashion Blogs

There are now hundreds of fashion blogs many giving inspiration to readers to try out unique and different styles. Style Bubble written by Susie Lau has got a cult following of readers who gain inspiration from Susies DIY and fiercely individual style often using second hand clothes. Street style blogs such as thesartorialist.com and facehunter.com to name a few also open up a whole world of inspiration with their global style photographs.

This week we have some more great outfits imaginatively put together using second hand and vintage clothes. Proof that it is not just about what you wear but how you wear it. It is not just the girls who can look great in second hand and vintage clothes, we also have our first ever male on second hand style weekly with some very stylish ebay finds.

This photograph is taken from Flem007’s photostream on Flickr

A great mixture of vintage and new clothes, perfect for wandering around Carnaby Street

Hat - Topman.
Waistcoat - Vintage from Ebay
Jacket - Vintage from ebay
Jeans - Topman
Trainers - Next
Tee - Urban Outfitters 

 I really love this picture for the bright and fun outfits using colour co ordination to the extreme, from Lorena Cupcakes photostream. The inspioration comes from trying to be the most alternative couple on earth- now that is really individual and unique style. 

CLAUDE: thrifted scarf, 2 secondhand Ts, Old Navy hoodie, F21 girl jeans by way of Rag-O-Rama

LORENA: Hobby Lobby bandanna, DIY Robots Shall Overcome T, Delia*s mini, mismatched American Apparel socks, Happy Socks

SHOES: Claude and I are wearing identical PF Flyer Bob Cousy All Americans

WAYFARERS: Claude got his from Michael who was randomly given them at a party, mine are from Fred Flare and relensed in my prescription by Global Eyeglasses 

All Flickr pictures are used under the Flickr creative commons attribution licence

There are many good things about being short or petite. One being that you don’t have to duck your head as you walk through doorways (I should know, I am only 5ft 2). There are equally some disadvantages when looking for clothes that suit or fit you. There are some very good petite ranges in certain shops but sometimes you don’t want to just buy from these ranges and need to look for key items of clothing that will look great on you. You will need to look for clothes that elongate your body and legs and avoid anything that creates horizontal lines that will make you look shorter. Generally fitted clothes will look best on petites.

Try swapping

Oversized clothes
large patterns
high waisted trousers
cropped trousers
mid calf length dresses or skirts
Very tight fitting trousers

for

Fitted clothes
small patterns or plain clothes
floor skimming wide legged trousers or flares
dresses tunics to wear with trousers
empire line dresses
three quarter length or long line jackets and coats
just below knee skirts and dresses

We at Posh Swaps are convinced that swapping is the new shopping. People are starting to realise the benefits of swapping clothes in terms of saving money, minimising environmental impact, having fun and finding a great new look. Press coverage and articles about second hand clothing, swishing and clothes swapping have helped to spread the word. Here is some of the most recent press coverage;

April 2009 - UK Aware the UK’s biggest ever swish?

March 2009 - BBC Radio 4 - why clothes swapping parties are gaining in popularity

February 2009 - Reuters - Fashionistas: Swap ’til you drop at a “swishing do”
February 2009 - Daisy Green - to swish or not to swish
December 2008 - CNN - London Women Swish for their fashions
November 2008 - GMTV - Swishing with Mark
October 2008 - Sky News - swish swapping is new shopping
September 2008 - The Daily Mail - recycle your way to a ’swish new wardrobe’
August 2008 - BBC - For women who love to swap

Another very common body part that people hate is the tummy. It seems no matter how many sit ups and crunches some of us do, we are they way we are. But don’t despair, with the right clothing, a bulging tummy no longer needs to be the bain of your life. You just need to pick and choose your clothes very carefully. Don’t worry if you have made some major wardrobe mistakes in the past, you an swap your way to the perfect tummy tuck wardrobe.

Swap

Hipster trousers

skin tight clothes

crop tops

shiny fabrics

belted coats

anything too tight around the tummy

elasticated or gathered waists

kaftan tops

any short tops

for

empire line tops and dresses

Matt fabrics

Ruching around the stomach

single breasted short jackets fitted on the waist

low waisted trousers

wrap skirts and dresses

slim fitting tops