Vintage Fashion and Lifestyle Blog

The 70s is back! Top 5 Spring Maxi Dresses

9/2/2015

All the fashion magazines this month have been telling us that the biggest upcoming trend is all about the Seventies. Here at Retrovert we couldn't be more excited about this, in fact we've been rocking the look for years! We've always appreciated the merits of 70s style - from colourful high waisted flares to flowing boho maxi dresses. So to celebrate, here are my top five 70s spring maxi dresses available in the shop right now:

Check out all our fabulous 70s vintage in our eBay shop and do share your favourite Seventies looks in the comments below.

Sophie from Retrovert x

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Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1976 Chunky Shawl

10/12/2014

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Today's vintage pattern is a chunky knit shawl from a 1976 Australian Women's Weekly. Just the thing to keep you cosy on these long winter evenings, and nice and quick to make if you need any last minute christmas pressies!

Happy knitting!

Sophie from Retrovert x

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Groovy Baby! Psychedelic Print Top 5

5/12/2014

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Well it is dull and grey out there that I thought I'd share some vintage guaranteed to brighten up your day! So here are our top five items in the shop right now with mind bending prints that get you into the swing of the Sixties...

These 5 pscyhedelic beauties are all available in our ebay shop (just click on an item to go to the listing) or visit us this Sunday 7th December at Judy's Vintage Fair in Cambridge Guildhall!

Have a groovy weekend ;-)

Sophie from Retrovert

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Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1930s Winifred Cap and Bag

2/12/2014

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So this week it is officially winter and I feel like sharing something to brighten up the dull day. And what better than a free vintage pattern for a hat and bag described as 'jaunty' and 'gay'!

The pattern is a mix of knitting and crochet and uses eye catching geometric patterning. The feathers at the back add a novel finishing touch. There's also a pattern for a matching bag. Isn't the Art Deco styling striking?

These Thirties beauties are both on my to make list. Perhaps in red or cream, or maybe royal blue and white. What do you think?

Find the free pattern here on the Northern Star.

Have a great week,
Sophie from Retrovert x

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Vintage Pattern of the Week: Sixties Inspired Crochet Pinwheel Jumper

26/11/2014

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This week's Vintage Pattern isn't strictly vintage, but you can certainly see its Sixties inspiration!

It's a fun pattern to play around with and its great for experimenting with different yarns. Here's what I made. Pretty crazy, but I love it! It uses samples of handspun yarns which I dyed using plants, so I pretty much made it from start to finish. I love how this fits with the idea of harmony with nature and the artistic experimentation of the hippie movement!

I even found this photo from the Isle of Wight Festival back in 1969 of someone wearing something very similar! How I wish I could travel back in time...

David Hurn/Magnum Photos Isle of Wight Festival 1969

You can find the crochet pattern on The Laughing Willow's blog.

Have a great week,

Sophie from Retrovert x

p.s. Join us on Pinterest for more vintage inspiration. Do share your links in the comments below so we can follow you too!

Follow Retrovert Vintage's board Vintage Patterns on Pinterest.

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Seven Days of Secondhand First

25/11/2014

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Last week we took part in TRAID's #secondhandfirst campaign to promote the benefits of wearing preowned clothing. Apart from being great for the environment and cutting down on wasted resources, I think wearing second hand is the best way to express your own style and individuality!

I would say my current wardrobe is 80% vintage, second hand or handmade from old textiles, but I'm going even further and have taken TRAID's pledge to source 95% of my future wardrobe secondhand rather than new. You too can take the pledge - any amount is welcomed!

My style is very eclectic and I love to wear colourful prints and mix up vintage from different eras. Here's what I wore throughout the week:

Monday's outfit for #secondhandfirst challenge. 50s dress, vintage glasses and turban made from charity shop wool pic.twitter.com/DXi2LqIR9T
— Sophie at Retrovert (@Retro_Vert) November 18, 2014

Day 2 #secondhandfirst Vintage Hat, 60s Jumpsuit, Crochet Shrug from Oxfam and Shoes from Jumble Sale. @TRAID pic.twitter.com/ClwdWfTn9s
— Sophie at Retrovert (@Retro_Vert) November 18, 2014

Day 3 #secondhandfirst Hat from a car boot sale, Top that was my Mum's in the 70s and Flares from @JudyVintageFair pic.twitter.com/MS2irjIa2N
— Sophie at Retrovert (@Retro_Vert) November 19, 2014

Day 4 #secondhandfirst Hat & cape inherited from my granny and nan. Laura Ashley dress and boots from charity shop. pic.twitter.com/Zj85VTk751
— Sophie at Retrovert (@Retro_Vert) November 20, 2014

Day 5 #secondhandfirst Vintage scarf, cashmere shrug from charity shop and 50s novelty print skirt from auction. pic.twitter.com/vEwBzrxr4M
— Sophie at Retrovert (@Retro_Vert) November 21, 2014

Day6 #secondhandfirst Head to toe in purple and all second hand! pic.twitter.com/gXII2mczba
— Sophie at Retrovert (@Retro_Vert) November 22, 2014

My final #ootd for @TRAID #secondhandfirst week. One of my fave vintage dresses, handmade shawl and 60s necklace. pic.twitter.com/W1clh2dbfS
— Sophie at Retrovert (@Retro_Vert) November 23, 2014

How do you feel about wearing secondhand clothing?

Sophie from Retrovert x

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Cambridge Blue Belles WI Craft Fair

21/11/2014

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Just in case you don't already know, the fabulous Cambridge Blue Belles WI are hosting a craft fair next weekend on Saturday 29th November. It promises to be a brilliant day with handmade and vintage on offer, and plenty of home made cake. I'll be bringing a selection of gorgeous vintage jewellery and accessories.

So pop the date in your diary, bring along your Christmas lists and support local businesswomen!

Hope to see you there!
Sophie from Retrovert x

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#SecondHandFirst Week!

18/11/2014

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Happy Tuesday everyone! Just wanted to let you know about a brilliant campaign going on this week by fashion reuse charity TRAID.

#SECONDHANDFIRST is all about celebrating all things secondhand while committing to using more of our existing resources, rather than buying new. Find out more about how to get involved.

As you know this is something that we wholeheartedly support so we are proud to join in with the campaign. I will be sharing my second hand outfits every day this week on twitter as part of the #secondhandfirst challenge and we encourage you to take the pledge too!

Even if you only wear a small proportion of second hand clothing, then thats one more item that doesn't have to go to landfill and less wasted resources, so everything adds up!

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Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1940s Cable Knit Turban

17/11/2014

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The archives of the Australian Women's Weekly are a treasure trove full of interesting articles from 1933-1983. If you have a moment grab a cuppa and dive into the digital pages, from prize winning recipes for chocolate fruit crumble, to beautifully illustrated short stories you never know what you might find!

Today's Vintage Pattern of the Week is a great winter accessory from a 1941 issue - a Cable Knit Turban. There's no shaping, it's just one long strip which makes it a good pattern for practising cables.

Here's mine. Made from vintage 4 ply wool in a rather fabulous Land Army green. I only had one small ball so it's not quite as long as the pattern suggests, but it still ties up nicely. It has a really good feel to it and stays on securely without pins.

So here are the instructions for knitting the turban. There's also the pattern for the matching cardigan if you fancy having a go at that too!

Happy Knitting!

Sophie from Retrovert x

p.s. Fancy something a bit different? Check out our other Vintage Pattern Posts

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Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1927 Elsa Schiaparelli Bowknot Sweater

12/11/2014

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Schiaparelli is one of my absolute favourite vintage designers. Her novelty and pictorial works are what appeal to me most. So when I came across this new pattern made as part of her retrospective "Shocking ! The Art and Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli", I knew I had to share it with you. While not strictly a 'vintage pattern' its result is very close to the 1920s original.

Image from Philadelphia Museum of Art - Woman's Sweater Designed by Elsa Schiaparelli November 1927 Black and white hand-knitted wool Accession Number: 1969-232-54 Credit Line: Gift of Mme Elsa Schiaparelli, 1969

I would love to knit it someday. I don't really wear black so I'd be tempted to try it in blue or maybe red. The two colour Armenian style looks quite tricky, but I think it could also work using the intarsia method.

Here's the link to free pattern for the Bowknot Sweater.

Have a great week!
Sophie from Retrovert

ps Follow us on Bloglovin so you don't miss our next Vintage Pattern post!

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<< Previous

The 70s is back! Top 5 Spring Maxi Dresses

Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1976 Chunky Shawl

Groovy Baby! Psychedelic Print Top 5

Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1930s Winifred Cap and Bag

Vintage Pattern of the Week: Sixties Inspired Crochet Pinwheel Jumper

Seven Days of Secondhand First

Cambridge Blue Belles WI Craft Fair

#SecondHandFirst Week!

Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1940s Cable Knit Turban

Vintage Pattern of the Week: 1927 Elsa Schiaparelli Bowknot Sweater

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