WEARABLE VINTAGE FASHION & SECONDHAND AND VINTAGE LONDON

I have a lot of books at home about art, design, vintage and fashion, and also titles on all of those combined. Which I always thought would be nice to feature in posts (although few posts have seen the, how would you say it, light of the world wide web so far...)

My latest book is by Jo Waterhouse and Clare Bridge, Wearable Vintage Fashion, a book I had been waiting for but then forgot about until it came up in an email conversation and then down the mail slot in my door.


The authors of the book are vintage enthusiasts and run a vintage store in the UK; Secondhand Rose. The book covers fashion styles from the 1920's to the 80's in perhaps a little different way than we are used to see vintage fashion being represented; quite down to earth, rather practical. The book does not present items that designer pieces photographed at a museum nor is it illustrated with vintage fashion editorials and adverts, but the clothing pictured are from the authors' vintage store or borrowed from friends and relatives, items that have really been worn or are in use. The photos in the book are also of friends and relatives, shots from real life.

Each decade is presented with some text and key items for both daily and fancier wear, the over-all style presented. What I like is that also items from different decades are brought up when discussing a certain style, not ruling anything out. Like some seventies pieces that fit 30's style and 80's goes 50's or example, showing how fashion recycles itself and how you can take advantages of different periods when trying to recreate a look for everyday wear. The book also recreates one style icon per decade in a don't-take-it too-seriously kind of way, with good tips for masquerades or theme parties.

In the end there is a section of street style, with what I am sure will be a lot of familiar faces for many of you. And why did I mention I had been know about the book to coming out?


Well, that's since yours truly is also featured in a spread :)

At the same time as Wearable Vintage Fashion I also got a guide book on vintage shopping in London; Seconhand and Vintage London by Andrew Whittaker:

When I was in my later teens the thing for me and my friends was to move to London after school was over. We saw movies like London Kills Me and read UK magazines, listened to brit pop. Well, dreams changed, none of us moved there. In fact, I haven't even been threre. Yet.
But anyway, most people find London a good city for vintage shopping and thrifting. So when I do get to go there to dig in on the selection this guidebook will come in handy -  Secondhand and Vintage London is part of a shopping guide series being made (so far  a Berlin version is also available, which I'd like to see as I have had the chance to browse stores over there a few times and have many trips there yet to make again).

The book is divided in sections, like Clothes & Accessories, Books & Music, Home &Garden etc, and each section is organized according to stores per area.  There are over a hundred shops and markets featured. The stores are labelled according to a three-step price scale.

Both books are published by Vivays (- they have quite many books on art and vintage!).
You can't order the books directly from the publisher but find them on Amazon for example.

And, and, in honour of finishing off my "give away week" (which I intended to do last week already but that a nasty flu stopped me from), one of you will have a chance to win either one of these books according to your choice!

To enter, leave me a comment on this post, and let me know which of the books you would be interested in. As usual, this is open to everyone out there. The winner will be drawn randomly which means only one comment per person (and once again, make sure I can reach you trough that comment)! If you however mention and link this give away somewhere out there on the interwebs you can leeave me annother comment showing me you'v done so, which of course will give you another entry.
The give away will be open for one week; until Wednesday March 28th.