Wedding Wear

As I move further into my 20s, I've noticed that one thing is becoming increasingly common. I'm not talking about grey hairs or dark shadows under my eyes (although they're coming along nicely too) - I'm talking about weddings.

These days it feels like 90% of all the people I've ever known have gotten engaged lately, and as a result I'm going to a few weddings this year. So far I have three in the diary. Naturally, this has lead to a huge quandary in my lady brain - what the hell am I going to wear?!

As much as I would love to get a new and exciting outfit for each, I can't afford to. This doesn't mean I want to compromise on style, so I'm looking for a dress that looks nice and I won't get sick of wearing after wedding number one. Not only that, but I always struggle with knowing how formal I should go - is a evening gown acceptable? How smart is too smart? That's where you come in, my dear reader friend; I need your lovely eyes and brilliant brain to decide which dress to go for.

Here are a few options that I have found after endlessly trawling the internet:

Something Old - Vintage 1950s Imaginary Maps dress - £154
I love the shape and style of this gorgeous dress. It is a little on the pricey side, but I do feel that good vintage is always an investment. I am a little concerned that it is on the informal side, and that the print will be a bit sickening after a while. What are your thoughts?

Something New - ASOS Maxi Dress In Vintage Floral Print With 70's Sleeve - £48
The beautiful floral print of this dress caught my eye straight away, and I love the mix of colours. This also happens to be the most affordable option on the list, but is it too informal for a wedding? Also, one of the weddings is in September - would I freeze to death?

(Not really) Something Borrowed - Great Plains Sandbanks Linen Tiered Rosanna Dress - £75
Although this dress is on the plain side, I think it would act as a nice base for a variety of accessories. I love the cut and colour too, but the fact that it's made of linen makes me a little nervous - will it be too much of a daytime dress in the flesh? I do have receptions to go to too!

Something Blue - Coast Estee Jersey Built Up Maxi Dress - £160

I know this is quite a pricey number, but I think this dress has the potential for lots of versatility. Instead of changing my dress for each wedding, I could get a mix of different accessories and change the look for each occasion, plus the beautiful blue colour would work for both summer and winter...but is it too evening-y? 

So there we have it: four potential options. Which one do YOU think I should go for? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, and be as brutally honest as you like. If you don't like any of them, I will go back to the drawing board - just let me know! I respect and appreciate your opinion more than anything. 

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Rocking it, vintage-style

Yesterday I attended the Rokit Vintage bloggers event at their warehouse in Seven Sisters, and you know what? It was bloody amazing!

I've always liked Rokit because they make vintage accessible for everyone, as it should be. Their prices are very reasonable, and I've always found their branches to be friendly and welcoming - not cold with hiked up prices like some vintage boutiques. They also embrace new emerging design talent with their Rokit Designer's Guild while still staying true to their proud sustainable ethos.

More than that, Rokit know how to have FUN with vintage! And fun was definitely had by at their event yesterday!




To say that the Rokit warehouse was like an Aladdin's cave of vintage is almost an understatement - it was more like a Haven of vintage! Boxes and sacks of vintage clothing and accessories surround the walls, stacked to the ceiling, while individual items hang from a network of rails spanning from wall to wall. They stock supply seems never ending, and makes me feel like much less of a hoarder!



We were treated to delicious afternoon tea, courtesy of the famous Vintage Patisserie. Everything was served on the most beautiful vintage china, and I have to say the scones with pink sugar were pretty damn incredible!

My chubby hand reaching for a cake...nails were done on the day by the incredible ladies at The Illustrated Nail - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.

The best part of the day, in my opinion, was being allowed to try on ANY of their amazing vintage items. ANY of them. And as much as we wanted! I'm not sure Rokit knew what had hit them, but the afternoon bore a strong resemblance to a classic movie dress-up montage...but with a lot more laughing and jumping in the air.

Fiona of Save Our Shoes evoking some Kate Bush circa Wuthering Heights


Lucy of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts mixes her prints


Me wearing a floral number (that I know own) - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams


Sabina from Access Fashion was on a roll with her dress up look!


Kit of Style Slicker looked adorable in floral prints


Reena of Fashion Daydreams and Sabrina of The Science of Style rocking the varisty look - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.


Nik, PR genius and founder of KARLISMYUNKLE does Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (styled by Reena and I) - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.


Me turbaning it out (geddit?) - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.

As if the millions of photos weren't enough, I also made a (very) short video. I originally started filming because Reena of Fashion Daydreams decided to put on rollerskates, and I saw the potential opportunity to make £200 by sending the footage of her falling on her arse into You've Been Framed, but unfortunately it was not to be...


The video can be seen bigger and better on my YouTube page.

I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone at Rokit Vintage, in particular the lovely Imogen, for having us and letting us run riot in your amazing warehouse like kids in a vintage sweet shop. I also want to praise the efforts of PR legend and all-round handsome devil Nik Thakkar for organising a super-fun day.

Swell Vintage LOVES Rokit Vintage (oh look, we have the same surname!).

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell times

Hello there!

How was your weekend? Mine has been nice and chilled - I saw Slumdog Millionaire (WOW, by the way!) and also made a couple of new pieces!



Times, they are a chain-ging! This necklace is a beast - made from a vintage pocket watching, hung on vintage dark brass and faux pearl chain. Unfortunately the pocket watch no longer works, but it's so bold and beautiful that it doesn't need to be practical!




A diamond era! This bracelet has a real 60s feel to it. It's made from a vintage broach, hung on vintage brass chain - a real statement piece.

So what are your thoughts? As always, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Both of these pieces are available at my Swell Vintage etsy shop, so pop over and have a browse if you fancy it - http://swellvintage.etsy.com.

I'm ever so excited for the Dress Up IFB party for London Fashion Week tomorrow! I know that the lovely Mademoiselle Robot has been working super hard, so needless to say it's going to be an amazing night. If you're there, please come and say hi to me! I can't wait to meet my fellow fashion lovers!

Have a lovely week, one and all!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x