The Glasgow School of Art Fashion Show 2008, 4th and 5th March @ The Vic, Glasgow School of Art. Tickets available from Tickets Scotland, £7.50/£5.50 (concession).
An array of unique and exciting designs from 3rd year undergraduate textiles students (including The Frockery’s very own Kirstin) will once again be showcased at this prestigious annual fashion event! For more information, visit the GSA Fashion Show’s MySpace.
It has been a case of ‘frocks around the clock’ since the turn of the year as The Frockery has been coping with an increase in orders from customers new and not-so-new. Vintage and retro party dresses have been in particular demand throughout January and many of our own favourites have found new appreciative homes.
Meanwhile, there is evidence of some serious green resolutions being made and kept by a number of our customers who are moving house, downsizing or just having a good clear-out. This has resulted in The Frockery dress agency taking delivery of some fabulous pieces for our catalogue, so look out especially for the arrival of some glam 80s frockery which would have had Joan Collins and Victoria Principal tearing each other’s hair out over back in the good old days of Dynasty and Dallas!
The 80s look certainly seems to be enjoying something of a revival among the younger set, who are once more embracing shoulder pads and over-the-top statement outfits like we all used to (without even a hint of embarrassment!) Frank Usher dresses are endlessly appealing for posh parties and proms and the more colourful and dramatic the better! Why not flamenco the night away in this vibrant violet number or dazzle in this sexy black velvet frock from Dusk?
Vintage and retro themed parties appear to be gaining in popularity and The Frockery has recently helped dress a newly 40 year old for her 1960s themed birthday party, as well as a newly 50 year old who wanted a memorable 1950s look for her half century celebration. Meanwhile, one of our younger fashionistas stuck to a 1980s theme for her 21st birthday party when she and her friends got fully into the spirit of the era, ably assisted by The Frockery team, a supply of sparkling wine, some retro fashion magazines and an original December 1986 copy of Vogue.
Still on the subject of vintage themed events, we have also just had notice of the dates for this year’s Culzean Autoclassica international heritage motoring event in Ayrshire which will be another great opportunity to dress up in period costume from the 40s, 50s, 60s or 70s to reflect a particular transport era. Billed as Scotland’s equivalent to the Goodwood Revival weekend, it promises to be a fantastic event for all the family and will take place at Culzean Castle, Maybole, Ayrshire from Thursday 21st to Monday 25th August 2008.
In our latest Frockery Focus section, we have turned the spotlight on Glasgow designer Marion Donaldson, whose fashion label - started with a mere £50 of capital in 1966 - is widely credited as having brought the essence of Carnaby Street fashion and swinging 60s London to the streets of Glasgow.
Probably best known for her long and successful association with Liberty of London and her ultra feminine ’signature’ Liberty print dresses, Marion Donaldson began modestly by designing mini dresses and mini skirts and selling them wholesale to the fashion boutiques which were establishing themselves in Glasgow as a result of the 60s fashion revolution.
The label flourished and soon Donaldson was selling her garments all over the UK and making an impact in high fashion boutiques and upmarket stores like Fenwick’s of Bond Street. The company traded from 1966 until 1999 and the iconic Marion Donaldson art nouveau label, originally inspired by an old oval mirror picked up at auction for a song, remains an instantly recognisable indicator of a quality garment.
Some good examples of Marion Donaldson’s designs can be found at The Frockery, such as the following pieces from current stock:
Beautiful sheer print blouse (Marion Donaldson) - Marion Donaldson 1970s maxi dress - Marion Donaldson navy shift dress - Liberty print dress (Marion Donaldson) - Vintage Marion Donaldson black velvet dress - Marion Donaldson foxglove print dress
Here at The Frockery we just love the classic little black dress, and the female members of our team all have one or two classic LBDs in their own wardrobes.
So we were delighted to hear of the new Little Black Dress Exhibition which is to run at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery from December 2007 until 1 June 2008. Not only will it feature couturier and celebrity owned garments, but it will also include exhibits from the wardrobes of local women.
The little black dress - now known universally by that three letter acronym LBD - is a versatile and timeless classic which can be dressed up or down and worn by women of all ages no matter what the occasion. From breakfast at Tiffany’s, through a day at the office and on to the wine bar in the evening, it will never let you down!
The LBD first came to prominence in 1926 when Coco Chanel succeeded in bringing black - previously relegated to funeral attire - into the fashion mainstream with a feminine new creation which was quickly adopted by Vogue and has been celebrated by fashionistas ever since.
The LBD’s appeal is truly universal, and while its various incarnations have made headlines over the decades for fashion icons such as Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Hurley and the late Princess of Wales, its magic somehow manages to make ordinary women look and feel special.
Here are some of the Frockery’s own favourite LBDs currently in stock and all at affordable prices:
LBD with rhinestone yoke
Black velvet LBD
Joseph Ribkoff LBD
Retro wrap LBD
Classic velvet Viyella LBD
Sexy Zum Zum ruched satin LBD
Louis Feraud LBD
The Frockery website now includes a Frockery Focus section in which we highlight some of the designers whose labels we stock in our online resale shop.
The first of these features Canadian designer Joseph Ribkoff who has just celebrated 50 years at the top of the fashion tree and whose stunning designs and beautiful creations are adored by style consicious women worldwide.
He has been described as “a pillar of the fashion industry, both at home and abroad, who has been serving femininity for more than 50 years” - as these Joseph Ribkoff dresses from The Frockery catalogue amply demonstrate.
Stunning vintage Joseph Ribkoff black evening ensemble
Black showstopping Joseph Ribkoff dress
Vintage purple Joseph Ribkoff dress
Joseph Ribkoff lavender evening skirt
Joseph Ribkoff lounge lizard suit
