A thrifty haul treasure tease

Bored of waiting for baby to arrive (expected 24^th) I grabbed my brolly and decided to go on a thrifty shopping expedition for new stock for Make Me Pretty Shop.

All-in-all I was really pleased with my haul – 3 dresses, 2 skirts and 4 sets of beads, so here's a sneak peak at my thrifty treasures coming soon:

Now, shopping for vintage, for resale anyway, is not as easy as some might think.

There are many things to consider, firstly – genuine i.e. garments 20+ years old, or a retro purchase imitative of a style or fashion from the recent past?

I’m no vintage snob. I love to blend real, retro, and High Street fashion. Style is personal, often limited by budget, and as long as you look good who cares?

It's the quality of vintage where things get a little complex, with varying levels from high-end Haute Couture to low-budget to midrange department store brands.

Make Me Pretty Shop is for those who respect style, respect vintage and love to have fun with fashion, so while we only stock genuine, you’re unlikely to find high-end and therefore high-priced vintage.

Plus, I was popping Southside of Leamington Spa to raid charity shops, which although offer a plethora of vintage goodies, Haute Couture they are not.

My fav find has to be this Hamells of London 1980s preppy monochrome dress - double breasted with a layered ra-ra skirt – who doesn’t love a frilly bottom?

 

Cute and versatile, this dress would look great with tights and boots for winter, or with jelly shoes and copious amounts of plastic jewellery for summer.

I’ll confess I'm tempted to keep it, but given the ever-growing bump and unlikely fact I'll fit into it anytime soon, this thrifty treasure is up for grabs!

Enjoy x

Little frock on the prairie

Woo hoo it’s Friday which means it’s time for Make Me Pretty Shop's #fridaysfrock!

Every week, we select a must-have genuine vintage dress to showcase. This week, it's a high ruffle neck, balloon sleeve, 1970s prairie-style dress by Paragi.

Prairie dresses are the epitome of ‘innocence and fun’ – think the wholesome Ingalls children from American drama TV series Little House on the Prairie.

While these dresses for women tend to offer a sweet and summery look, this little number has a rich autumnal palette of deep purple with blue and pink flowers.

Prairie dresses naturally followed the Peasant look (Yves St Laurent 1976) and were introduced to fashion by Ralph Lauren in his 1978 western themed collection. 

Traditionally, the skirts would have been full and flouncy, but like many vintage dresses, Prairie dresses have evolved over time to suit the modern woman. 

In the 70s clothing become multifunctional, and today’s #fridaysfrock is no exception. 

While perfect for summer days, this Paragi Prairie dress is a great capsule wardrobe staple. 

To transform your look from day to night, swap knitted tights, a fur gilet and carved bangles for bold wedges, a statement necklace and a stylish clutch, voila!

Enjoy x

The joy of vintage

Hello world my name, well for the purpose of this blog anyway, is Crafty Rolls. You what I hear you say, where the hell did that come from? Well, you can thank my beloved for that one.

When I couldn't think of a name for this blog, he suggested this. It comes from my passion for making things (Crafty) and a shortened version of Rolly, a name he gave me based on the sound I made when I got nervous around when we first started dating (think Roland Rat).

Anyway enough of silly names and on with the vintage.

Vintage clothing is enjoying a massive resurgence and I for one am glad. Every day it seems there are new outlets, pop-up stalls or online marketplaces opening. This vintage lover affair has even brought good old crafting skills and items back into fashion, such as crocheting, knitting and bunting.

So, what is it about wearing garments inspired by eras gone by that people love? Melody Fortier, the author of "The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping" suggests for some its a collector's passion, the nostalgia the clothes evoke, an eco-friendly way to shop, or a way to escape overplayed trends.

Call me a sentimentalist, attention seeker and a little bit smug, but the joy of vintage for me is in rehoming a once loved item, breaking away from mainstream fashion and attracting compliments, all the while knowing people are unlikely to be able to rush out and copy my outfit.

It's for these very reasons that I decided to set up Make Me Pretty Shop on Etsy, that and the fact I now have far more pieces of vintage clothing and accessories than I know what to do with.

If you hate the bland, the over-priced and are bored with cookie-cutter High Street fashion then you're no shop dummy, which means my shop is probably for you. I launched Make Me Pretty for those who respect style, respect vintage and handmade crafts, but don't believe in paying the earth for them.

So, whether you're looking to protect your wallet and save a pretty penny, need to shake up that wardrobe or just ensure you don't turn up to the office Christmas party in the same outfit as everyone else, why not take a peek at what my shop has to offer?

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter or LIKE us on Facebook for all the latest vintage fashion musings, tips and offers on clothing and original handmade jewellery. Look out for our #fridayfrock it's one of a kind, so once its gone its gone!

Toodle pip X