Moseley Vintage Fair

Hey hey,

This Sunday the Birmingham Vintage Fair will be at The Cross, Moseley as if this isn't enough the Moseley Jass Festival is also on all weekend. What more could you possibly want from a Sunday - Vintage treats, Jazz and the forecast is for sunshine!

Sowe will of course be there with our usual selection of Vintage clothes, accessories, bags and jewellery.

We have some brand spanking new vintage stock in this week to, here are a few sneakpeeks..

Why give yourself back ache and tennis elbow with a massive bag? We have a beautiful selection of vintage clutches in a range of colours and styles. Here is a kitsch heart shaped velvet clutch..

Ahh pretend to be a pink lady from Grease in this classic 50's look (without the tacky satin jacket)!

A great scarf can add so much to an outfit whether you wear it in your hair, as a belt, tied to your bag or even tied round your neck - try these light chiffon ones for a splash of summer freshness.

The nautical look is always a classic and this cute vintage inspired naval skirt is easy to wear with classic white pumps or coloured wedges..




Cant wait to see you there!

Ellephant

xx

Sunday 3rd July - The Cross, Moseley - Vintage Galore!

This Sunday 3rd July Sowe will be at The Cross in Moseley bringing you all our vintage & customised pieces....including a vintage bike!!!! how cute....(will post pics later in the week with contact details if req)

This is usually a really good event with plenty of quality items! I can't wait!!!!

Come and join us...

Scarlet

xxx

70's Makeup

Some 70's makeup looks for Saturdays Vintage Fair!

Enjoy

Ellephant

x

70's Styles from Sowe

Birmingham Vintage Fair!!

If you havent been able to make it along to Glastonbury this weekend, fear not we have a mud free alternative! Come along to the Birmingham Vintage Fair in St Pauls Square where we will be channelling woodstock with our hippie vibes! We will also have performances by 2 local bands to really finish off the festival feel!

Now to one of life's eternal questions.....What to wear?
We have some lovely 70's ensembles for sale, see some of them previewed in the pictures below.

Cant wait to see you there!
As always peace and love

Ellephant

xx

Saturday Matthew...We're going to be...

Hippies!...this Saturday at the Birmingham Vintage Fair El & I will be channelling our inner hippies....peace

Scarlet

xxx

Images - afashionmind.blogspot.com

New stock for Birmingham Vintage this Sat 25th June!!!

Hey hey hey!

Me and Elle-phant got busy last night and took some piccys of some of our latest stock for the vintage fair in Birmingham on Saturday this weekend (as previously mentioned by Elle-phant) check out the link below for details...Sowe will be there, all day for you stylish sisters and trendy brothers, yes we have some menswear guys!

http://www.birminghamvintage.co.uk/

Look out for El's blog in the next few days with our 70's stock pics...trust me there are some bargains and must haves, I've had to restrain myself from keeping alot of it!!!!

Scarlet

xxx

Images - www.google.co.uk/maps

70's Fashion

Peace and love people!!

Ha soooo as I have already said the Birmingham Vintage Fair is here in under a eek (the countdown is on!) and Sowe has been busy preparing!

As I mentioned the fair is taking on a 70's theme, now me and Scarlet love an excuse to get dressed up (although we have a tendency to take it to far - ask Natty Bling!!) Soo whilst out shopping on Saturday we gots to talking and debating what is 70's fashion is it flares and disco fashion or miniskirts and eyeliner or hippie-boho???

Well you will be relieved to know I have done my research and I'm glad to say its all 70's fashion!!

The 70's was an era of significant change in politics, equality, economy, music and youth culture this all of course had a huge impact on the fashion trends. To sum them up...

Early 70's continued from the 60's with a hippie look of maxi skirts and peasant shirts, but also the mini skirt was introduced as was hotpants.

Mid 70's saw the glamrock era and the introduction of the platform shoe for men and women. Shops such as Biba thrived and fashion icons such as David Bowie and Bianca Jagger were created.

Mid to Late seventies saw the Disco look emerge with three piece suits for the men, leotards for women and generally loads of lurex and polyester think John Travolta and Saturday night fever, in stark contrast to this the Punk style developed with ripped jeans torn t-shirts, tartan and safety pins with icons such as Siouxsie and Malcolm Mclaren.

Funny that the 70's often gets a bit of a slating when people refer back to it but it seems that every style albeit with a slight modern take has been recreated...who can say they havent worn; flares, platform shoes, ripped jeans, maxi/mini skirts even the looks as a whole have come back think Sienna Miller and Kate Moss with their boho-chic and the punk look with stars such as Jaime Winstone and Agyness Deyn.

So what will you be wearing this Saturday?!

Cant wait to see you

Ellephant

x

Hippy girl picture; http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5037030662_c51147fcb9.jpg

Hotpants girl; http://digilander.libero.it/guido_1953/pics/hotpants-2/hotpants-1970-model.jpg

Mick and Bianca Jagger Wedding; http://thehistoryofrockmusic.com/images/mick-bianca-jagger-wedding-2.jpg
David Bowie; http://cheerbear.webs.com/Bowie.jpg

Saturday night fever; https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCsjQ3xuQnapbjcFn4FcPPGAwZcLkjCPUO3hjpEsjuhMI_tIXZPsBGrYnP-nfa0bbagjFI6s_J4eTWCo2of9tzZbRu8r3PN2LgQi_gz6n4lHRK3aDHcA5dc3zxm9XPlSIGjn2zm3D4tg/s400/SaturdayNightFever.jpg

Siouxsie;http://www.buzzinmusicblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/siouxsie-sioux.jpg

Sienna Miller; https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm0mwpie-ZfLceY4pCwTnKIeo-glQ5PYSH1_PjLfi2wYhfHViJCQ32u2QoIn2JocIFLySzW6ski7in3LIYo5qidHYenKJOIBpCYNVCmNgmsjerbhr1B2G67TaYYuByTVuU5yMtLu7IwgD/s1600/sienna+miller+street+style1.jpg

Agynes Deyn; http://www.soundfreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/idmag-agyness-deyn-2-150x150.jpg

A work of art....

Hello beautiful people!

I would like to introduce you to the (current) love of my life..they are limited edition Nike Liberty print Blazers.

Now can we all please pray for the rain to stop so that I can wear them!!

Ellephant

x

Birmingham Vintage Fair

Hello Lovelies,

Finally we have fantastic news to deliver - we are over the moon to announce Sowe will be joining a fantastic line up at Birminghams newest Vintage Fair.

Birmingham Vintage is taking a fresh new approach to the scene and seeks to project a festival atmosphere by creating a fair with vintage fashion and accessories, art, food & drink as well as makeup and hair consultants to work their magic!

The fair will be held on the 25th June from 11-5 in the creative hotbed that is the Jewellery Quarter at AE Harris. For more information, directions and lots of other interesting stuff go to http://birminghamvintage.co.uk/

As if things couldnt get any better they are having a 70's theme so I will be channelling my inner hippie (not hard really ha!) and going all out with the peace and love vibe!!

Cant wait to see you there!!

Ellephant
PS stay tuned for more info on what Sowe will be taking to the Vintage Fair!
x

Do something bloody good!

Hi All

Its national blood week - if you havent ever or havent recently given blood do it!! Only 4% of the population do which means that 96% are reliant on these donations.

Here are 5 reasons

1. Its almost definitely the closest you willl come to saving someones life.

2. Its easy doesnt take long and is painless.

3. Think of the good karma that will come your way after doing this selfless act

4. Fingers crossed you won't but if you ever need any blood you will know there is a good supply around.

5. You get a free cup of tea and biccy!

For more info and how to register and become an organ donor (go on you cant take em with you-well you can but they wont be any good!) See http://www.blood.co.uk/

Ellephant
x

Rum pum pum pum!!!!!

As a women, near enough every action you take is a double edged sword, and near enough everyone has their own opinion on whether you encourage or provoke certain behaviour...but really who are we to judge anyone but ourselves. Why do some people scream outright when a strong woman like Rihanna makes a video thats thought provoking and inspirational - I doubt very much, in fact I know shes not sending a message to women, or men, that if in one way or another you are abused to commit murder, she's merely telling "a" story, pushing the music boundaries, and instigating your brain into action to GET OUT if you are in that position too....Hell, theres probably a heap of other meanings behind it - but you or I are not Rihanna, or the director, the producer, or the editor, so why are you critising - is it because you don't understand?


Im pretty sure backaday artists from Bob Marley, Elvis to Prince were shunned for being too sexual or promoting "taboo" subjects, glorifying this and that, all that bull'ish - its expression all the less, and its liberating, if a sculpter created a piece about rape it would be praised and probably awarded - but when an artist does it, because you don't like their music or understand it - its "sending the wrong message" - Open your mind and maybe you'll see the right message.


When you think about it, if you havent been scrutinised for your actions, you havent really made it? Most the biggest stars have, and lets face it sexuality is out there on the cards nowadays so all Rihanna's doing is showing you the depths behind the doors that not many have sang successfully before...




I love this video more than any other I've seen in a long time....and on a less serious angle, most artists do videos in the caribbean and look like they "bought" people into the video...Rihanna looks like she's still part of the scene....The videography is amazing....and she looks ridiculously good!


Scarlet




xxx

I want want want!

Nothing more than the title...

Scarlet

xxx

Images - http://www.riverisland.com/Online/women/get-the-look/industry-insiders/grazia-4?cmpid=esw11064a27

Its like a bitter divorce...

Hi people,

So unfortunately I have more bad news to bring you and it is as I have said above like a bad break up I am left feeling angry, confused, betrayed, bitter and wondering how to get my maiden name back!! Ha

As many of you know myself and Scarlet are also proud mamas to Sowe (selling vintage and customised clothing and accessories). We have always operated from the Custard Factory (hence our Custard Cream moniker) originally at the Saturday Flea (RIP) and more recently from Retro Brum.

I recently blogged to say that we had been advised that due to an electrical problem the venue wasnt able to be used and that the Saturday Retro Brum had to be cancelled, so we were disappointed but we thought ok its fine we arent gonna make a big deal about it and we just looked forward to the next one...then that was cancelled too and to make matters worse we were also given the news that it was all over no more Retro Brum at the Custard Factory.

Unfortunately we dont know why it was cancelled so we can't speculate on that.

Now like all break-ups it seems like once its over the ugly truth begins to rear its head and we hear from fellow stall holders (and the good old internet) that the so-called electrical fault was actually that they had double booked the venue for a wine tasting event!! And looksy heres the evidence..

http://www.virginwines.co.uk/main/rules.jsp?ref=VG6318

Now Im not gonna sit on here and bitch about my ex (the Custard Factory) but... (ok I will) but its not the first time they have let us down like this and I cant help but feel that they wanted the relationship to end a long time ago... so why not have the balls to do it, why string us along keep us interested (make us buy more stock) to dump us the day before the big Vintage Fair (one of our busiest days) oh and did I mention they did the exact same thing to us last time right before the big Vintage Fair.....Oh we were fools to trust them again after that.

Its a shame as I think Birmingham albeit an amazing city really lacks unique and independent trading spaces as Scarlet has said before (see her recent blog on the Candy Store) there arent a huge amount of boutiques and shops that are independent from the usual high street chains. The skyhigh rents of the city centre tends to either force people out or gives them a short shelf life. Whereas cities like Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Sheffield have a thriving range of independent venues.

I had always thought that the aim of the Custard Factory was to provide a space that was accessible for the community as a creative outlet and venue.

Owner of the CF Bennie Gray stated in 2010 when asked about the redevelopment of the Zellig area “The most important thing is the working community – the idea that hundreds of creative enterprises can be in one place." Isnt getting rid of an established weekly event home to 30-50 stallholders a complete contradiction to this statement?!

The fact that in 2010 the CF had around £6 million of funding from Advantage West Midlands to carry out the redevelopment works to the Zellig area makes it even more galling that so many of us have been left without an income from the saturday Vintage markets.

If you visit the CF as a tourist you are unlikely to find much there almost everything other than a cafe is closed ..not to boast but we were literally the life and soul of the place!

So safe to say we are looking for new venues / events for us to continue with Sowe and there is no way we will be going back to the Custard Factory! We are definitely all about on to bigger and better and we will keep you posted!

Hopefully you will find Sowe and our vintage chums in a nice new home soon - also if you have any ideas suggestions for new homes please get in touch?! (Especially you secret millionaires please!!)

So Im off to cut up old pictures, listen to Adele, drink wine eat Ben & Jerrys and generally get over the CF!!

lots love

Elle-phant

xx

If you want to read the interview with Bennie Gray its here: http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2010/05/28/10m-expansion-at-custard-factory-hints-at-greater-ambition-for-digbeth-65233-26545553/

Welcome to the candy shop...I'll let you lick the lollipop!

Hey hey hey!!!

Birmingham is FINALLY but unfortunatey not at my "wanted" pace; building up its niche market with boutique type stores & markets such as RetroBrum @ Space2 of The Custard Factory - vintage & customised clothing including Sowe (our customised vintage baby!!!!), Unique Kicks-in The Custard Factory; Unique footwear for the trendsetter(as blogged - yeah im on that ish), COW next to Urban Outfitters & on the Digbeth Road - vintage warehouse, the cute box boutiques in the arcade and any others I missed (sorry but I need to get onto the whole reason of this blog!)

The MOST exciting whisper on the vine lately was that The Candy Store was back, and it isnt just a whisper!

The Candy Store will opening in Birmingham shortly - and as you can see from the visuals below, its going to offer many many brands in stylish, modern surroundings....I love love love the fact there is plans for so much light,angular walls and a simple layout drawing all your attention to exactly where it needs to be...on the clothes....!

As you can see from the brand line up, Jilted Royalty is finally going to be available in store....much easier and tempting on the wallet!!!

And whats more there is plans to open stores in London and Manchester - so if I was you, I'd get down there as soon as it opens (rumours are about 6 weeks - eeek) and every week after, because once they've got stores in other cities, thats even more oppurtunity for others to cop your style!

Check out their website;www.thecandystoreclothing.com - currently being constructed but as soon as its up and running we will let you know!!!!

And follow @JILTEDROYALTY and @jayread666 for the most recent updates...

Enjoy

Scarlet

(Waits with baited breath)

Images - www.thecandystoreclothing.com
www.jiltedroyalty.com

The Heirarchy....!

Jilted Royalty...the already well established brand has brought out 3 NEW T's...

Showing a paisley pattern is easily worn by both genders, when you got swag you got SWAG! And at £20 for the ladies & £25 for the mens you can't go wrong...

http://jiltedroyalty.com/shop/category.php?id_category=7 for orders - get them quick, they always sell out fast!

The ladies version just makes me yearn for my auburn hair back; and the guts for that sleeve!!!!!

Look out- later today I'll show what what Jay Read of Jilted Royalty has in store for you next - pun intended!!!

Its gonna blow...

Enjoy

Scarlet

xxx

Images - http://jiltedroyalty.com/shop/category.php?id_category=7

Shoenvy!

I want these Balotas!!!!!

A classic strapped platform in a vibrant colour....easily worn for years to come...

Any help would be appreciated....either colour, I'm not fussy!

Scarlet

xxx

Images - http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/favourites-of-vogue/110512-best-shoes-of-the-season-for-spring/gallery.aspx?Page=5#/imageno/54

BAD NEWS VINTAGE LOVERS!

Hello Lovelies,

Unfortunately I am the bearer of bad news, Retro Brum has been forced to cancel tomorrows Vintage Fair - we arent exactly sure of the details some electrical health and safety issue apparently.

BOOOO

We are of course very disappointed about this but more concerned that you guys will turn up and be disappointed ...and that the disappointment will turn to anger and then to rage and that in this rage a mob will form and destroy Digbeth!! ooh sorry I let my imagination run wild then - but you get my drift!

So in the interest of saving Digbeth and Retro-Brums reputation please pass this message on via facebook, twitter, even your mouth with actual spoken words etc etc and come back on the 4th June when hopefully we will be back bigger and better than ever with more amaaazeballs stock!

If you only buy one pair of shoes this year.....

Morning petals,




So as the title says if you only buy (me) one pair of heels this year please make it these, I'm in love the black suede, the block heel, the ankle strap...ahh I have died and gone to shoe heaven.








I can just imagine them with soo many outfits palazzo trews, playsuits, cropped pants or turned up jeans with just a hint of ankle.









Eek deep breath ...count to ten.

I first spotted these gorgeous feet-treats on a fellow bloggers page http://www.wheredidugetthat.com/ she is a londoner living in New York and has great style - its well worth checking her out!

Here she is working the heels...

Enjoy

Elle-phant

x

http://www.wheredidugetthat.com

Feeling Fruity?

Hey Peardrops!

So you cant avoid the fruity fashion thats out there at the moment Prada and Stella McCartney have definitely lead the way and its featured on catwalks all over....

Well at Sowe we try and stay ahead of the trends and make our own trends!! But like (most) of you we cannot afford to spend £140 on a pair of Prada banana earrings however much we tell ourselves that they would constitute one of our 5 a day!

Last week while rooting through Mama-elle-phants jewellery boxes i found some beautiful carved wooden pineapple and melon earrings, so like any good well brought up daughter I took them for myself! Unfortunately the old dear hasnt completely lost the plot yet and when she turned up at Retrobrum to say hi she spotted them and immediately said she wanted them back and banned me from selling them!

I also had some compliments on them from my lovely fellow fleabags so I have sourced some and made some for this weeks Retrobrum have a look and see what you think there are 2 of every fruit but I think they look so much better in a mix and match combo, so maybe your a banana and strawberry girl, or an oranges and lemons lady or maybe like Scarlet your a 2 big watermelons kinda gal!

So come along and mix and match and make yourself a lovely fruit salad for your ears!!

Lots love

Elle-phant!

x