ritacardosohenriques

I just love rummaging around in antiques shops and vintage fairs, so I was over the moon when I spotted a large vintage fair in Bristol last weekend. I spent almost 3 hours there having a good look at everything. I also made a few purchases.
Shopping vintage is always a great way to pick up something individual, something that no one else has. A fab vintage pair of boots for example, will make a great addition to your wardrobe. Fashions come round again and again ensuring you’ll pick up something that’s on-trend yet unique and yummy, if you know what to look for.

This season ‘forever pieces’ is a big trend. Invest in items which transcend the seasons, and work with lots of outfits such as a jacket. Where better to find that than at a vintage shop or fair?

Before you hit the stalls it’s a good idea to make a list of some of the things you might be looking for; it’s so easy to be overwhelmed by the wonderful hotchpotch of sparkle, pattern and chatter! For example; I went along hoping to find a little snakeskin hand bag for next season, some jewellery that would also work in the summer, but that looked a bit individual and, of course, I was keeping my eye out for items that might work for some of my clients!

To see if there’s going to be any in your area follow this link to Blind Lemon Vintage’s website: www.blindlemonvintage.co.uk they also link to other vintage fairs. If you can’t bare all that hunting on foot, why not take a look from the comfort of your home. Some of the stallholders who were there have websites so here are a couple to make life a little easier for you:

www.samayalingvintage.com - For great quality vintage designer items
www.sheenaholland.com - For unique headresses handmade from vintage jewellery

Some other Websites worth visiting:
www.myvintage.co.uk – A good selection of vintage pieces and a great place to buy new, retro t-shirts
www.stardustonline.co.uk – Great choice of accessories
www.candysays.co.uk - Vintage clothing and accessories
www.marthascloset.co.uk – Browse through the decades to find what you’re looking for, they also sell vintage fabrics and trims

So, there’s no excuse; get rummaging!

Saturday was a day of research (well, that’s what I like to call it).

I braved the snow and ice (I did, I literally ice skated down the road in my little car) and went to London. I spent the day with some of the other lovely Alicia Kite Image Consultants. We had such a girly day, drinking Lattes and talking about all the latest trends. We spent most of the day in the fashion Mecca that is Harrods. It looks like summer is going to be a great season for fashion, and I can’t wait. There’s something for everyone whether it’s floaty florals that take your fancy or you’re more of an eighties girl.

So, if you’ve started to think about what to wear when the sun eventually comes out then here are some handy tips before you part with your pennies:

Number one rule: Make sure you’re choosing items that work for your body shape. There’s no point in forking out lots of money for something because it’s deemed to be ‘the must have item’ for this season if it doesn’t work for your shape. Trust me you won’t feel good in it so you probably won’t wear it.

Try and focus on your positive attributes: Women spend most of the time trying to hide the parts of their body they don’t like that they forget to show off their best parts. If you’ve got a great waist then show it off!

Get out all your summer clothes from last season to remind yourself what you’ve got.

Does it go with at least two other things in your wardrobe? This sounds like a bore but believe me, if you want your wardrobe to work really hard for you then you need to be purchasing items that slot seamlessly into your wardrobe.

Is it the same as something you’ve already got? This is a mistake that a lot of us make. We get into a habit when we shop; do you find yourself shopping for the same things, in the same shops time after time?

Step out of your comfort zone a little and you might be pleasantly surprised!

We make genuine memorial diamonds using carbon extracted from 'Cremains' or hair. Recently we made the first diamond in the world using the umbilical cord of a baby. Our diamonds are NOT synthetic, faux, Aura, CZ, 'Moissanite' or made of DNA. They can (if required) be certified by the UK Assay Office [AnchorCert].


Diamond sizes range from 0.25 [1/4] carat up to 2.00 carat. Diamond colours : Mainly Canary yellow and 3 free-range shades of Blue. Diamond cuts : We strongly recommend round 'Brilliant' cut - 58 facets. Canary diamonds use 100gms of ashes per carat. The minimum order value for canary is 1x .5crt; or 2x .35crt; or 3x .25crt - this is because the processing is almost the same for any weight of diamond. Costs : Brilliant Canary 1.00crt = £5550, 0.75crt = £4312, 0.5 = £2975 Orders could consist of various sizes, we have made up to 10 at once. Blue's use a more technical process using 500 gms of ashes or 25 grams of hair/crt. Smallest Blue is 0.33carat (=£3625**) largest is 0.8 crt (possibly 1.00 crt). The calculating price for Blue's is £10,950** per carat. The Canary process takes around 13-15 weeks, Blue's can take much longer.
Terms and conditions apply, detailed in plain English on our order form.

“It is unwise to pay too much, but it is worse to pay too little.

When you pay too much, you lose a little money...that is all.

When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was supposed to do.

The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot.....it cannot be done.

If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better”

John Ruskin – Philosopher 1819-1900