It's vintage darling...

In the past few years, vintage clothing and accesories have taken off in a big way. ' Oh this? It's vintage darling...' has become the oft muttered phrase of many a Hollywood superstar on the red carpet. Wearing vintage is not only cool, but a necessity if you are to cut it as a grade A fashionista. With the likes of Lilly Allen not only wearing vintage (and looking fabulous), but going so far as setting up her own vintage shop, the time has never been better to invest in a bit of vintage-chic for your wardrobe.

With this explosion of old-but-still-good fashion comes a new breed of shops, probably not on your high street, but tucked away on a different type of shopping street. Look out for the rustic style cafes and tiny art galleries and a vintage shop will not be too far away! We no longer have to haul ourselves to London to invest in this look, vintage shops are popping up everywhere, you just need to know where to look. The web is a good place to start:

http://www.govintage.co.uk/directory.php

This website is particularly helpful and lists vintage shops by region (UK only). Ebay is another good bet, with the prospect of many happy hours spent trawling the lists of vintage items and memorabilia.

If you are a vintage virgin, I would suggest starting with a few accesories. I have been a fan of vintage for a few years now and I have to say, I still find it easier, and prefer to add vintage accessories to my modern looks rather than wearing vintage clothes themselves. That is just my personal preference, however I do admire the amazing vintage outfits that fashionable girls all over the globe put together so effortlessly. Vintage clutch bags are always gorgeous, as are vintage shoes and jewellery. My latest vintage purchase came via ebay:

I love my new (old) cowboy boots! I have wanted some cowboy boots for ages but I didn't want new ones, I think worn in, soft leather boots look so much better! This pair cost me a bargainous £14.99 (including posting and packaging) and look amazing on. I cannot wait to wear them, although I think I will have to wait until it cools down a bit (It won't be long, I am in England after all!)