This Modern Chaos

Vintage Shopping in Berlin

Berlin is a city of many known and hidden attractions -  so much history, art, great nightlife, cheap beer and of course, its wonderful thrift shops and flea markets. There is a serious underground feel to Berlin too which makes it so appealing for young people especially.  The graffiti, the clubs, the abandoned buildings dotted around the outskirts of the city and that hard-rock German sense of style  - the city is pumping with alternative, youthful energy. Every bit as beautiful as Paris, but cooler.

One of the aspects of visiting Berlin I was most looking forward to was rummaging through some Grade-A vintage shops. Most of the Flea markets take place at the weekends, so if you’re heading over mid week, the vintage stores are your best bet for thrift shopping. Before I travelled over, I had researched some shops so that I could work out how to get there and in doing so discovered the mother of all vintage shops. Located on Bergmannstrasse 102, lies 1000 square meters of vintage clothing.  ’Colours’ is Berlin’s biggest vintage shop - it has every style, from every era, to fit every size. Hidden away in a little courtyard up a stair case, this place is the last word in vintage shopping.

        

Rails of velvet dresses, bold 60’s prints and quirky silk shirts line the walls. While the shoe area is literally exploding with footwear - leather boots, vintage quirky heels, biker boots and everything in between.

Prices range from ridiculously cheap to a bit-more-pricey, but with every item being so beautifully unique, it would be worth spending it if you found something special.

As well as the array of clothes the store offered, it also had every shape/colour of handbag you could imagine. I spent at least a half an hour digging through the tables of handbags and purses, which were all priced around 15-30 euro.  While the scarves, belts and bowler hats on offer were the material of dreams for any accessory lover.

        

It’s not just a paradise for ladies either, there is also a huge mens section, with every thing from retro football jerseys to beautifully cut suit jackets.   And also some comfy seats in the middle of the store for you to sit down on, should you become fatigued by all the shopping.

The back of the store is where the real bargains are to be found;  here you can buy clothes per kilo. As well as other rails in the centre of the store with tops and summer dresses for just 3 euro upwards.  The shop also has a Happy Hour on Tuesdays, 11.00-15.00, where  you’ll get 30% off whatever you’re buying.  So if you’re planning on paying ‘Colours’ a visit,  keep their bargain hour in mind.

        

  I literally was so consumed by this vintage world that I can not tell you how many hours I spent rooting around in there -  but long enough for my boyfriend to nearly pass out with the hunger. Unfortunately due to our ‘travelling light’ mantra, I could only buy a certain amount of things to fit in my hand luggage, but I did manage to bring back some small pieces…… 

           

                                    Gold detailed, leather brown purse.

       

                                  Poppy print neck scarf - 99 cent - Bargain!!

         

                         Purple handbag and chain print scarf - 99cent.

It is nearly impossible to go into this shop and walk away empty handed, but even if you don’t intend on shopping while in Berlin, its worth a visit to ‘Colours’ just to see this cave of vintage treasures.

Fashion with feeling

I recently had the pleasure of being asked to report for a charity fashion show in my home county. The fashion show was organised by a wonderful team of volunteers and it showcased the clothing of five popular Gorey shops in Co. Wexford. A local sports venue hosted the fashion show and hall itself was transformed on the night, with windows glazed in satin curtains and cheese and wine being served from the bar. The night was a stylish social gathering and I came away with lots of ideas and inspiration for brightening up my own Summer wardrobe.

On the night the shops displaying their clothing included Voila, Jack Dunne & Son Menswear, Ruby Rouge, Paco and Contra. each boutique had something unique and exciting to offer on the night, and I was captivated by all of the outfits throughout the night.

Contra clothing, one of the longest running boutiques in Gorey, showcased its Spring Summer collection of fresh coloured denim,  pretty lace tops and dresses for every occasion. While the Irish owned company Paco displayed a range of smart, casual wear, with a fresh nautical theme of white linen trousers and navy striped tops. Popular boutique Ruby Rouge has gathered a market from all over ireland with their unique and beautiful designs. On the night, the store put on a display of high fashion dresses, headpieces and umbrellas, suitable for any special occasion this Summer. Each of their collections was themed to a fashion era,  including brightly coloured ‘California Dreaming’, which offered   fun and colourful dresses. As well as  ‘My Fair Lady’, a theme inspired by the black and white gowns and polka dots, topped off with elegant headpieces and hats. An ideal store to go to for that special dress for a 21st, the races or a wedding.

The night wasn’t  just a female affair either, Jack Dunne & Son Menswear showed that it has suits, ties and shirts to flatter gents of all ages. The male models showed off formal wear and casual clothes, such as cotton sweaters and jeans. With fresh spring and Summer coloured shirts, as well as very current paisley print ties.

Voila’s collection included maxi dresses, denim hot pants and striped jeans, while  their neighbouring store, Shu 4 U,  had an offering of bright sky scraper heels and unique wedges with lace detailing. The diverse range of shops showing on the night meant there was something for everyone. It was a largely supported event and a great success on the night. Fashion is often dismissed as something frivolous, so it was great to see a night that showed that the industry plays many other roles, including supporting and embracing charity events like this one.

Below are some pictures I took on the night of some of the fabulous outfits.

           

                                 

       

       

            

           

          

Festival fever

The term music festival might conjure up images of mud and navy raincoats, but for many it is the style event of the Summer. If you’re thinking of going there in your oldest  and worst gear, you had better think again, because any festival goer knows that just because it takes place in a field, doesn’t mean you have to abandon style altogether. There are many ways of dressing fashionably and practically at a festival, without spending a fortune.

Every year we see pictures of Kate Moss and Alexa Chung effortlessly floating around at festivals looking wonderful, and we think, How do they do it? But the trick is very simple. Firstly you will need a pair of denim shorts; if you really don’t want to splash out on a new pair, then cut up an old pair of dreams for the stressed denim look, which is very on trend. Shorts are great at a festival ; if it is sunny they keep you cool, and if it lashes rain, they dry out a lot quicker than a pair of trousers will.

           

Next you will need a straw hat; try to go for the bowler or panama style, and less cowboy to avoid looking like your going to a honky-tonk. While there are plenty to be found on the highstreet, you could always customise your own with a scarf or flower. It is a perfect way to keep your face out of the sun and for hiding hair that might be in need of a bit of a wash after 3 days of living in a tent.

          

                                       Panama Hats from Debenhams

Whether you are festivaling in Ireland or further a field, you will always need to pack a raincoat just in case. Don’t be tempted by the lure of a cheap poncho – they never keep the right out. Invest in an actual waterproof jacket. A mac-in-a-pac is a handy little one to buy and can fit nicely in your handbag. You’ll be glad of the investment when the heavens start to pour down on you.

                               

                                           Raincoat from Asos.com

Wellies are another essential item to purchase. Pennys has a great selection of wellie boots and they are very cheap, like the raincoat though, if you want to be guaranteed water proof, you might want to spend the cash on these , seeing as you’ll be wearing them for the whole weekend. Have a look in TK MAXX for a good brand, at a reasonable price. Ideally, a pair of Hunter wellie boots are the best quality, and offer a range of colours and designs. Start looking now and you might bag a nice pair on e.bay for a quarter of their retail price.

                        

                          Nicola Roberts sports her Hunter’s at Glastonbury

There is also the danger of over packing and having to haul a case full of unnecessary clothes across three campsites to get to your tent. The best option is to travel light, and use a back pack, as trolley wheels will only get caught up in the muck and grass. Umbrellas are often seen as a weapon by security men, so don’t make the mistake of trying to bring one in. The same goes for stilettos, although lets face it, you deserve to be put out of a festival if you wear high heels in the first place.