Life&Style 21
16th March 2012 redbrickpaper.co.uk
Redbrick
Life&Style Guide: The best of Brummie boutiques April Shacklock Senior Life&Style Writer
Vintage shopping can be tricky; online has the disadvantage that you cannot try before you buy and on-the-high-street vintage shops are often in hard-to-find locations. This week I have been on a hunt around Birmingham for the best vintage shops we have, so instead of giving up and buying a 1920sesque dress from Topshop, you can have the real thing! Forgotten Vintage – Unit 9, Great Western Arcade Forgotten Vintage is new to the Birmingham vintage scene. It is a vintage shop with a difference; it is a charity shop raising funds to support homeless services across the city, run by SIFA Fireside and Reach the People Charity. The shop has clothing and accessories for men and women set in the elegant atmosphere of the Great Western Arcade. The staff of Forgotten Vintage are exceptionally friendly, and they are there for their love of vintage and dedication to charity. Beadesaurus – 8 Piccadilly Arcade
www.forgottenvintage.com
Founded by a graduate of the School of Jewellery in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, Beadesaurus is nestled in the Victorian Piccadilly Arcade. As you walk in the door you are instantly put in the mood for retro shopping with the 1950s style music. Although it is not technically vintage, Beadesaurus offers vintage style and superbly kitsch jewellery, retro clothing and bags, as well as quirky homeware with a vintage influence. This is the perfect place to come to buy someone a unique present as many of the statement pieces of jewellery come in gift boxes. Urban Village – The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth Urban Village has been on the Birmingham vintage scene for a while but has recently been updated. Stocking vintage clothes for men and women from the 1940s to the 1980s, specialising in the 1960s. Urban Village also stocks vintage records, artwork and any other memorabilia they can get their hands on. Urban Village is a must-visit as it has a larger collection of accessories and records than any other vintage store in Birmingham.
www.urban-village.co.uk
We found love in a hopeless place: should we go back? Megan Nisbet Life&Style Editor
'@Nat_Cassidy – @bigfatnastyaunt domestic violence is NOT OKAY. I am with Adam because he has stopped drinking. Please do not think I'm stupid' When Natalie Cassidy recently tweeted this, I can imagine the world was split in two withtheir thoughts and feelings. Her friends spoke out that she 'usually doesn't take sh*t from anyone, saw the best in everyone and believed in giving people a second chance' but it hardly screamed role model to anyone that's suffered from domestic abuse and is trying to get back up on their feet again. Betrayal is an awful thing and it comes in all shapes and sizes – whether the one you thought you loved has simply got up and left, cheated on you or at the very worst physically abused you, it is hard to even think of trusting somebody new. For example, Cheryl Cole's turbulent relationship with cheating ex hubby – Ashley Cole, is a classic case of somebody who just 'cannot let go'. The once furious nation has become bored with her tedious game playing, but anybody who has been in her position will know that it's very hard to try
again with somebody new. Making it work with an old flame is easier than beginning a new one, especially if you don't feel completely burnt out. But is this foolish? It is as they say, leopards cannot change their spots, and although sometimes it's hard to let go of somebody you wholeheartedly trusted, I think once the damage is done and the spark is gone it's very hard to regain that. These girls should be fighting back with a vengeance, not falling at the knees of these worthless men.
The Oasis – 110-114 Corporation Street, This is a very different kind of treasure trove and it is especially unique to Birmingham! The Oasis hosts a range of alternative and vintage clothing stores for a broad spectrum of clientele, departments include: Editions, Shop!, ACS Birmingham Ltd, Revival and An Octopus's Garden. The Oasis has been in Birmingham for almost 40 years and has recently undergone refurbishment. They are always looking to acquire new departments to become even more varie; a great starting point for vintage shopping. All the stores have fantastic blogs on their websites about everything stylish and vintage! Cow Vintage – 82-85 Digbeth High Street With stores in Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield and Nottingham, Cow is probably the vintage store in Birmingham you have heard of before. They trade hand-selected vintage clothing and accessories from all eras at affordable prices. Set away from the hustling Bullring, the Cow warehouse is a chance to enjoy fashion history, the eclectic
www.wearecow.com
and unique merchandising offers an extraordinary shopping experience. A word of warning, the store is fairly large so allocate plenty of time to Cow as you don't want to miss a single vintage treasure. I can guarantee you won't walk out empty handed! Decades Vintage – 22 St John Street, Lichfield, A beautiful vintage boutique based in Lichfield, but it is oh-so-worth the journey. Outfitting both men and women, Decades Vintage wants you to literally feel as if you have stepped back in time when you walk into the Grade 2 Listed building. There are even vintage newspapers for you to dip into when you need a break from trying on everything from the 1920s to the 1980s. If you still haven't ingested enough vintage atmosphere, play some popular vintage games or listen to old vinyl on the turntable. Decades Vintage also have a selection of books to give you inspiration in creating your vintage look. And to finish off the experience, your purchases are wrapped lovingly in tissue paper.
decades-vintage-boutique.co.uk
Harvey Nichols: Spring/Summer Fashion Victoria Gardener Writer
This weekend saw a series of exhibition fashion shows and the first ever usage of the Fashion Theatre in The Mailbox, courtesy of Harvey Nichols. Presenting their Spring/ Summer 2012 collections in style, they invited the fashion-conscious of Birmingham to come and enjoy the show with a flute of champagne and a canapé in hand. Arranging the looks into ten different trends (including Trailer Trash, Whiter Shade of Pale, Futuristic and Girls go Glam) gave the show a narrative, and supplied the audience with inspiration for creating outfits using the designer apparel they sell. These designers included the likes of Dolce and Gabanna, Christian Louboutin, Alexander McQueen, Acne, Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry. Top items of the day and the ones that will be making a formal pit stop on my wish list for 2012 were the array of Jeffrey Campbell heels (£95-£150), Paul Smith dusted pink jacket (£400) and shorts (£160) and a beautiful embellished By Marlene Birger dress (£790). However, it wasn't just the females who strutted down the catwalk; several (very) handsome male models also showed off next season's looks. Though in general the men's clothing was more spe-
cific to a confident, risk taking and somewhat flamboyant niche of men, there were several dressed down, more casual looks as well. Favourites of the menswear included a No Tomorrow t-shirt (£45), PRPS chinos (£245) and Montcler high-tops (£285). Stay locked in with your finger on the pulse for future Harvey Nichols events by keeping an eye on their website and The Mailbox website, while Redbrick Life&Style will of course keep you updated.
Mother's Day: Save, Spend, Splurge Sarah Musgrove Editorial Assistant
Save Penny-poor, but still full of love for your Ma? Try this sentimental but thrifty idea: first, find a nice photo frame. Paperchase do a great range in all sizes (this silver, springthemed number is only £4) and then hunt on Facebook/through old Christmas and holiday albums for a good picture of you and your Mum. Nip to Boots with your USB stick to print it off – if you give them your email address online, you can get 40 prints for free – before wrapping nicely and popping in the post. Et voila: a thoughtful present for under a fiver that lasts longer than a Thornton's gift box. Spend A magazine subscription is the gift that keeps on giving! Possibly – as a devoted worshiper of all magazines, ever – I am biased. But still, considering that subscriptions range from around £15 to £60 a year (if you're looking at a glossy weekly, that is), you can really work this gift to your budget. Obviously it's advisable to do some detective work and find out your Mum's preferred read first (or at least genre – fashion? Interiors? Lifestyle? Gardening?), but when your decision is made, it's a simple matter of entering the addressee's details online. This is a gift she will remember All. Year. Round. And sometimes it pays to have your Mother remember how much she loves you. Your love manifests as a 'thud' on the doormat e v e r y month; hopef u l l y hers will come in the form of Tesco shops a n d homecooked meals. Splurge For a less girly offering, however, we love the personal touch available from Smythson. With diaries ranging from £42 for the gorgeous, emerald 'Panama', all the way up to £180 for the 'Nile Blue Portobello', all Smythson stationary can be gold-stamped (at £6.95 a letter) for a truly unique gift. Yes, it's pricey, but with quality leather like this, it's go big or go home.
Photo by Victoria Gardiner