109/256

Every second Sunday of the month Stockport’s Vintage Village sets up shop in the fantastically sun spilled old market hall. I have written about it before, and love it dearly, yet unfortunately, due to Campervan distractions, missed last month’s.  We returned this month full of vigour and with eager fingers for some delicious vintage goodies. We were not disappointed.

As if on cue, as is so often the case for the Vintage Village, though not so for Stockport in general, the hall was full to the brim of sunshine in every conceivable way. The room was awash with that beautiful and often blinding light that highlights the delicate dust particles in the air. It shone over all the intricate and spectacular goods on offer. Everything from bold and brassy gold Lanvin broaches (one of my Finds of the Fair, see here) to Stuart Thornley Cup Cakes; from pillbox hats and fascinators to Sloppy Joes at Mo’s Diner. This fantastic juxtaposition of elegance and class and trash and brassiness superbly sums up what makes The Vintage Village a success every single month.

This month however was a special VE day fair so had the added interest of many a shopper clad head to toe in 1940s style clothing (although I have to say, this isn’t in fact a novelty at this fair) and many variants beside. I did my own take on a theme with victory rolls ­– any hairs on my head that fell out of which were obligingly chopped off by my assisting other good half Kevin – and my previously pictured and uploaded vintage M&S silver spotty dress & Carvela Christmas present shoes. Not entirely 40s but I like to twist things a bit. Other people however went full on 40s and looked fantastic.

This all added to the atmosphere of excitement and interest. Moving around the hall, all glittering green accordion buttons shimmering in the sun, a player keenly entertained with a mixture of tunes to people’s suggestions and appreciative smiles. Any anticipation of what stalls were to be there was soon calmed with the presence of firm favourites Tin Trunk, Stuart Thornley Cakes, the beautiful Lady Behave and keen vintage lovelies Emma and Laura with their stall of delicate jewellery delights. As well as these, there were an interesting set of new traders too sharing their wares and general nice chatter whenever I passed.

I do like a chat with people who are as keen as me to express themselves aesthetically with interesting vintage treats; those who have an eye for sharp design – glass (an elegant Whitefriers-esque table lighter for example, which we just had to have), pottery, footstools (a hand-made one of which we could not possibly leave without); and those who, as I do, obviously ‘suffer’ with the hoarding bug and simply like to magpie things around them. Oh it makes my hands clap in excitement and the twinkle in my eye grow to interstellar scales.

As always the market was a complete success. We took our little niece this time who got into the spirit of things with her 20s flapper girl dress and arm plaster cast (this was not intentional but added an alternative air to the outfit). She loved it and came home with all sorts of goodies. If you haven’t been already, I thoroughly suggest you do so next month. The market hall is an Aladdin’s Cave. The stallholders keen as bees to chat and share their goodies with you. The variety of things on offer is amazing and is guaranteed to suit every conceivable style and budget. Although I do warn you, whatever limits you set yourself, you are bound to blow, though the glory of beautiful things bought, well outweighs the pain of an empty purse. As I said to my niece as we left, “you now have a beautiful handbag and no money to put in it”, to which she replied, “ I know, but doesn’t it look fabulous”. Enough said.

Today I listened to: His Young Heart EP by Daughter
Today I watched: Strangeways 

This is my stash of Vintage Village Goodies. My niece Heather bought a 20s bag, 60s headband and we treated her to a fabulous pair of earrings from Emma and Laura’s stall. The glass table lighter is from Norwegian Wood the lovely lady and gent on that stall were particularly interesting and helpful. The only problem was wanting everything they had and having to limit ourselves to only one treat. The footstool is handmade by Imogen Peers and is simply fantastic. The dress I am wearing is my new best thing ever to wear (before you wonder, yes, I do wear that gold belt with EVERYTHING, really everything else in comparison is just too dull). Unfortunately as I spotted the lovely Lady Behave just seconds after buying the dress, I didn’t get the stall details. It was right opposite Lady Behaves lovely stall, if you know who you are, please let me know, and thank you for a fantastically cool dress. For my Finds of the Fair go here.

© Anne Louise Kershaw