I have just found myself the most perfect dress for a summer ball and yes it is vintage. I was determined to make sure that my choice was sustainable but also I think the choice to go vintage was mainly driven by my desire to find something truly unique. My initial browsing in vintage shops was a little terrifying, faced with racks packed with dresses of all colours, shapes and sizes and just my lunch hour to sort through them left me running for the daylight.
Next stop Lily Allen's (sorry now Lily Cooper I believe) shop, Lucy in Disguise. Here I could breathe and you could actually look at every item in the shop, this of course was reflected in the price tag. An effectively second hand dress for a brand new price tag.
Next plan ebay; ebay is great if you are a gambling girl and I don't think I am. I have bought a couple of vintage dresses on ebay with one a huge success and one not quite so much. However I spent little more than £5 for both of these dresses. Gambling on a dress that may or may not fit or flatter me for more than that makes the finger on my mouse stall above that button that says bid.
So at this point I realise I need some help. Calling on an old colleague turned out to be the best idea I ever had. In the depths of an old wardrobe in her living room I found the most perfect dress which low and behold fits like a glove. I like this way of vintage shopping, get someone else to cherry pick the very best form the hoards available and turn up on their doorstep leaving just an hour later with a beautiful dress in hand (Picture to follow). Some people are just made to be vintage guru's and this girl certainly is that. I am undecided as to my vintage guru status just yet but I am definitely up for working on it.
Visit her blog at http://belleamievintage.blogspot.com/
