I feel confident in saying that vintage shopping is huge in Cardiff. There are so many events and vintage boutiques in the city, that I feel dressing in fashions throughout the decades has almost become a sub culture in itself.
FAIRS:
Cardiff is renowned for its quirky vintage fairs. At the beginning of October I went to Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair, which took place in Cardiff City Hall. The range of goods the independent stalls sold was remarkable. Stall holders tended to dress up in vintage styles adding to the ambiance of the event, which was further enhanced by music from the 60s and 70s. The Shangri-Las hummed in the background and Stevie was played constantly. I found the people who ran the fair extremely friendly and helpful, taking time to talk through the history of their products and were always willing to answer any questions one might have. The event lasted for a few hours, so supplies of tea and cakes were to hand and a raffle was held half way through. For more information and dates of Judy’s next fair, which spring up throughout the UK, see:
Blind Lemon Vintage is also a popular fair (and credit must be given for the unusual names these events have). The next event in Cardiff won’t be held until February but it’s definitely something to look forward to….
SHOPS:
HOBOS in the High Street Arcade is a favourite. It stocks genuine vintage of a good quality.
There is also Seren Boutique in the Morgan Arcade which promotes local talent in the area by selling stock from homegrown designers. Also in Morgan Arcade is Vintage Affair. This shop offers an eclectic mix of vintage and antique products, as you can see from the video:
Video shot by bionicwaldorf, Feb 1, 2011
It’s almost like Pandora’s box (except only the good treasures of the world have been released). Just going there to look at all the bits and pieces is an experience in itself.
The Oxfam Boutique
You may find here, completely unique, one of a kind items, or maybe just something from last season’s Topshop. Either way, charity shops discounted prices make items far more affordable. Sometimes you have to rummage to find the good stuff, but knowing every item you purchase helps raise money to fight poverty internationally, makes it worth it.
the street statement 