Leaving on a jet plane with trader ‘Before Brasilia’

Greetings vintage fans!

With the days lengthening up and the sun coming round, there’s only one word on our mind at present – ‘VACATION!’ Hunting out our more exotic traders, this week we had a chat with globe-trotting homewares traders ‘Before Brasilia‘ before they set-up shop at Judy’s at Old Spitalfields this very Saturday…

Q. Hi Lucci! Thanks for chatting with us. Now then, my first question would be where on earth do team ‘Before Brasilia’ hail from?

“Well, I was actually born in Brasilia, but I’ve been in the UK for most of my life.”

Q. And where does your love affair with vintage travel begin?

“I remember when i was i kid, the Concorde flew into Brasilia airport during its world tour to showcase the plane (I  knew it was coming because I had spotted it on the news the night before with my Dad) The next day, we were all out playing in the playground at school and, like magic, we heard it! It was so, so loud and utterly amazing – I had never wanted to see something so badly in my entire life! Straight after, I ran to the school pincipal and convinced him that I was sick. He called in my mother to collect me and on the way out, my mother asked if i was really that sick. ‘No,’ I answered, ‘so can you please take me to the airport?’ And thankfully, she did! From that moment, my passion for aviation began, leading to a job with an airline. Unfortunately, when working in the industry, all the glamour was gone – everything was made of plastic, everything was cheap compared to my memories (hence why I now collect 50s and 60s airline memorabilia instead!)”

 

Q. Collecting for such a long time, you must have come across many beauties. What’s kept you going and what are your favourite finds so far?’

“Simply the glamour of it all, from how people traveled to what they wore and where they were headed! Over the years, we’ve seen some great finds, ranging from hats to glasses to airline posters (airline posters are my favourite! One day I’d love to show all the ones we’ve collected in an exhibition for all to see!) To give you some examples, we’ve picked up coats and dresses by the likes of Lila Ann, hats by Dior and Schiaparelli, art deco suitcases by Wheary and even an authentic ‘Pan Am’ check-in sign all the way from NYC! At Spitalfields on Sat 6th April, I’m going to be setting-up a vintage travel lounge so be sure to come and ‘check in!’”

Q. And finally, as someone that travels a lot, any top tips of where to go for vintage?

“That’s a difficult one but if we had to say, we’d pick Chicago! It’s simply the most amazing place for vintage!”

Well folks, there we go – vintage enthusiasm spanning several decades and hemispheres from one of London’s freshest retro traders. For more on Lucci (and to visit him in person) check out our Old Spitalfields event this weekend by clicking here or visit his page here.

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x

Judy’s at Old Spitalfields: The Rock n Roller Special

Greetings vintage fans!

The hair, the swagger, the moves (like Jagger) – there’s nothing we love more than a good rock and roller! Ahead of tomorrow’s very special Judy’s at Old Spitalfields (featuring a rockabilly theme with live music and booze from the folks at Sailor Jerry’s) we’ve decided to get in the mood by perusing our rock and roll idols from the 50s and 60s. Quoffed hair, tailoring (and bags full of talent) have a peruse below…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling the urge to shake those hips? We don’t blame you! For any of you wanting to pop along, our FREE fair will be taking place at The Old Spitalfields Market (near Liverpool St) from 11am – 5pm on Bank Holiday Monday (For all the details, click HERE)

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x

Judy’s at Old Spitalfields – Retro goes YELLOW!

Greetings Vintage Fans!

Always a sucker for a theme, last Saturday we popped on our shades and said hello to Spring by turning our monthly Judy’s at Old Spitalfields event our favourite shade – YELLOW! Inviting bloggers ‘Fancyfull‘ to come act as our retro musketeers [or should that be 'mustardeers?' No? Ok then!] here’s how they got on…

“Nicci and I were thrilled to be invited down to Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair to be their official Yellow Hunters! We only had eyes for the bright stuff and ferreted out all the best yellow wares the wonderful vendors had brought with them. We both really enjoy Judy’s fairs, they live up to their affordable name and we always hunt out some beautiful items to add to our burgeoning collection of second hand and vintage goods!”

 

“The gorgeous tea cup, Playmobil figurine and the amazing Sylvanian Families were from the wonderful Magpie’s Attic. I (Lucy) had such an obsession with Sylvaninan Families when I was younger and Nicci has promised to take me to the Sylvanian Families shop in Finsbury Park very soon.”

“This wonderful vintage filing cabinet would even manage to brighten up the always dull job of filing. Find it at Plan for Mondays where Lucy got an amazing suitcase from at the last Judy’s fair and we would strongly recommend hunting this stall out at all Judy’s fairs.”

“Seeing these vintage Girl Guide pins from Vintage Promise has made me (Lucy) dig out my old sash and start wearing those old pins and badges with pride!”

“These were a very, very small section of the amazing egg cups on offer at The Eggcuppery. I think they may become a new favourite collectors item here at Fancy Full.”

 

Dabber Decades had the wonderful knnited dress, great 60s blouse and these super summery Mary Quant sunglasses. They had gone all out on the yellow front!”

“With April looming on the horizon, april showers can’t be far behind. This vintage yellow raincoat from Old Pony Vintage would cheer anyone up on a drizzly day.”

“What more could you want from a scarf? yellow + horses equals a dream scarf. Find this beauty from Tapestry Boutique. Nicci picked up a beautiful shirt from here as well.”

Love Inc Ltd had one of the best yellow themed displays on their stalls. We seriously loved all their items and we could have quite happily bought everything!”

“These beautiful vintage dresses were from the lovely Tallula Vintage. The one with the hello yellow label was my absolute favourite.”

“We wanted all the globes that Before Brasilia had to offer, they were all so vibrant and would have made the perfect addition to any living room or bedroom. (Lucy went on to purchase the large red circular suitcase to add to the growing suitcase collection.)”

“They also had this amazing Silver Jubilee Colman’s mustard set which whilst looking lovely I doubt you’d want to sample the mustard inside!”

“Check back at Fancy Full in the next few days and we’ll be sharing all our street style pics that we snapped of all the well turned out vintage shoppers.

Lucy and Nicci xx”

And there we have it folks – what did you think of our yellow retro fiesta? Feel free to comment below or leave us your thoughts on our official fanpage.

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x

 

Our bags are packed for Judy’s at Old Spitalfields!

Greetings vintage fans!

Just TWO days away, we’re counting down the sleeps to London’s largest free vintage marketplace – Judy’s at Old Spitalfields! 

With a giddy spring theme featuring, let’s just say our trader’s stock, well, it’s great to say the least! Never ones to keep things to ourselves [unless it's cake that is!] here are our top picks…

Trader: Before Brasilia

Trader: Claudia Kirkman

 Trader: Claudia Kirkman

Trader: Latham Street Vintage

Trader: Love Inc Ltd.

Trader: Maxi Moo Moos

Trader: Mitty Dotty Vintage

Trader: The Upcycling Emporium

Trader: Vintage Promise

Are you excited? Because WE’RE EXCITED! Bringing over 70 amazing traders all readyand aiming to please, for more on Judy’s at Old Spitalfields, click HERE

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x

Judy’s at Old Spitalfields: Hello Yellow!

Greetings vintage fans!

With Spring [and the return of our free London bonanza, 'Judy's at Old Spitalfields'] just around the corner, boy do we have a treat for you! Teaming up with London bloggers  ’Fancy Full‘ [check them out here, they are lovely!] we are saying ‘HELLO YELLOW’ and showcasing the very best in vintage wares, all in our favourite colour!

From mustard through to sunny brights, expect fashion, homewares, street style and accessories to [colour] pop you out of the cold! With a full preview to come, here are two beauties from trader ‘Before Brasilia to get you in the mood…’

Lovely stuff indeed! For further information on how you too can let the sunshine in with Judy’s at Old Spitalfields, check out our event link here.

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ! x

Judy’s at Old Spitalfields – Everything Looks Rosie does the Love List

Greetings vintage fans!

To quote one of our fave retro crooners, “love is in the air!” [do-do-do, do-do-do] Ahem – singing aside, today we continue on with our blogger challenges with the wonderful Rosie Steer searching Old Spitalfields for a Love List to dream of! Take it away Rosie…

“14 February is fast approaching, and whether you go googly-eyed for all things Valentine’s, or are cynical about the whole thing, there’s no avoiding it. Press releases have been winging their way into my inbox since December with the dreaded V-Day subject line (seriously – could we not get Christmas out of the way first?!) and filled with hearts, pink and fluffy things and more often than not a gift guide in at least some guise. While I love flowers, chocolate and lingerie as much as the next girl, sometimes just a little imagination can mean so much more.

As one of Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair’s resident bloggers, today I took part in an extra-special Valentine’s themed blogger challenge at their monthly fair at Old Spitalfields Market. Becky Bedbug and I were tasked with compiling a ‘Love List’ of our favourite items at the fair. Armed with my ‘Love List’ sign and a red heart-shaped balloon, and with the romantic theme in mind, I set about perusing the stalls with the goal of finding and sharing with you some suitably retro gifts for guys and gals this Valentine’s.”

“Madame Fifi Presents is new to the Judy’s stable – it was their first fair today and they looked like they were having a great time! I was first drawn to their sparkly collection of brooches and trinkets, including this adorable owl. However, it was this beautiful men’s vanity kit that particularly caught my eye – this full set was in great condition and would be the perfect present for a well-groomed gent.”

“Old Pony had a fascinating collection of historical artifacts and quirky objets d’art. I was cooing over their retro crockery when I spotted vintage gold (to me anyway) – a Singer sewing machine. My Gran was a dressmaker, so sewing machines have always held a particular fascination to me and one day I would love to own a vintage Singer of my own. This one was in perfect condition and all wired up ready to go. I was SERIOUSLY tempted – if only we had the room. There was no question about it, this had to go on the Love List. I was drawn to this little owl as well – sounds strange, but it made me think of one of my friends, which reminded me that gal pals deserve some Valentine’s love too and that sometimes the best presents are those that really mean something, just between the two of you.”


“If you’re looking for a slightly different gift, then Vintage in Print has a beautiful selection of vintage photography, specialising in fashion photography and retro ads. In fact, for Christmas Al and I unwittingly purchased vintage prints for one another at Judy’s December fair. I blogged about the lovely Vintage in Print then too, as they really make the perfect gift for vintage photography aficionados and lovers of old advertisements alike. At the fair today this David Bailey shot of Grace Coddington (yes I’m obsessed, ok?) and stunning Helmut Newton shot of Twiggy really stood out for me.”

“I was spoilt for choice at the aptly named Magpie’s Attic with the most beautiful jewels, trinkets and stylish retro artefacts. This lovingly-curated collection is the work of mother-daughter duo Sarah and Emilie. Each item seems to have a story and mystique about it – you really get the feeling that Magpie’s Attic want to share a piece of this magic with you. I felt their vintage jewels in particular would make a lovely gift; the high street’s mass-produced Valentine’s tat is a million miles away from this. You feel as though each piece has a history and that by owning it you would become the next part of its story. Magpie’s Attic genuinely believe that certain items are meant to belong with some people and you can’t fault Sarah’s eye! This beautiful sapphire and diamond ring and black onyx cufflinks and tie pin set made my Love List – both would make a meaningful and memorable gift.”

“I’ve saved the best ’til last: I couldn’t resist the gorgeous I Heart Vintage – Rebecca had truly embraced the theme with all things cute, kitsch and Valentine’s-appropriate. Along with her staple offerings of sweet knick-knacks and feminine retro homeware, there was a smattering of Valentine’s-themed objects; highlights for me included these adorable heart tins and vintage ‘Love is’ mirrors. Far from saccharine sweet, I Heart Vintage has a great sense of humour – check out those kitsch ’50s cat figurines and the cheeky Adam and Eve bottle openers that Judy’s previewed on their Facebook page If your loved one has a penchant for florals and love hearts then you would be spoilt for choice, but I Heart Vintage has its tongue firmly in its cheek too and has some brilliant witty gifts. I bought Al some whisky glasses with sweet and funny ‘Scottish scenes’ on for Christmas and there was plenty from here on my Love List today.”

“I also covered the fair (and the progress of my Love List) on the Judy’s Facebook Fanpage – thank you for having me Judy’s! Lastly, I couldn’t resist sharing these shots of two stylish shoppers. I liked this chic vintage-goer’s all black outfit with a pop of blue, and her two-tone hair got a lot of love on Facebook! This dapper chap caught my eye with his clever accessorising and bicycle-print shirt. What’s not to love?!”

There we have it – loveliness indeed! From more from Rosie, click HERE.

Thanks for reading vintage fans – we’ll be back at Old Spitalfields on the first Saturday of March so hopefully see you there!

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x


Judy’s at Old Spitalfields: Becky Bedbug and the Love List.

Greetings vintage fans,

It’s official – love is in the air! On the countdown to V-day, we recruited blogger Becky Bedbug to act as resident cupid at The Old Spitalfields Market on Saturday, compiling a ‘Love List’ of things not to be missed. Take it away Becky…

“Yesterday, I posted all about the amazing street style at Judy’s Vintage Fair at Spitalfields. Well, as well as snapping photos of the lovely shoppers, I also compiled a love list of all the great things for sale. As I was shopping, I was keeping an eye out for anything that would make a great Valentine’s gift. After much deliberation, I’ve nailed it down to my favourite items. Ready for a love fest? Let’s go!”

“My first stop was the wonderful I Heart Vintage. After visiting Judy’s at Spitalfields in August, I sang the praises of this lovely stall and it’s owner, Rebecca. Seriously, she is pretty much the nicest person ever. Not only does she always have time to speak to everybody who visits, but she remembers everything I’ve ever bought from her… and that’s a lot! In fact, nearly everything in this post is from I Heart Vintage!”

“I love this heart adorned jug and glass set. Perfect for a Valentine’s-inspired kitchen. This vintage Mr and Mrs building blocks set is super cute. Perfect for a wedding present, don’t you think? (By the way, I’m gutted that I didn’t notice that adorable little dog next to the blocks. I hope he found a good home!) ”

“From there, I headed over to Madame Fifi Presents, where I spotted this gorgeous little piggy bank. I know I’ve mentioned before that pigs are my favourite animals and I can’t resist cuties like this one. I tried, really I did, but by the end of the day, I had to go back to adopt it!”

 ”Madame Fifi Presents also had these super cute brooches. I think the duck one is my favourite. Quack”

“There was more vintage brooch goodness to be had over at Magpie’s Attic. I clearly have a thing about animal-shaped brooches. These flamingoes are pretty amazing, right? Unfortunately, I’m not really very good at accessorising, otherwise I’d have been all over these babies!”
“Also at Magpie’s Attic was this amazing 1970s Marie Antoinette-esque top. It’s absolutely incredible! It actually came from a theatre costume company which I find pretty cool. How I wish it would have fit me! I’m not even joking when I say it would never come off! I really hope somebody found it a loving home.”

 ”Over at X-Spex, there was a whole range of amazing eyeglasses and sunglasses alike. This pretty pink pair were getting a lot of love. They were just a little small for my face, unfortunately. Thanks for the round face, Mum!”
“Sticking with the accessories theme, these heart shaped earrings at Eclectique Chic. How perfect would they be as a Valentine’s gift? I love the rainbow jewels around the edge.”

“Over at Old Pony Vintage, there was a whole assortment of eclectic goodies such as these rather amazing scissors. At least, I think they’re scissors. On closer inspection, they may be some sort of pincer device. Nevertheless, they’re insanely ornate and I love them!”

 ”Vintage books from Claudia Kirkman. I adore books in the first place but the beautiful covers here are absolutely captivating.”

“As a new enthusiast to film photography, I was pretty spellbound by this array of vintage cameras. Perfect gift for the guy in your life. Or the girl who loves film photography. Cough.”

“There were more gifts for guys over at Before Brasilia. I’m a big fan of globes so this was heaven for me!”

“Still over at Before Brasilia, I spotted these dominoes. This was a big deal for me because my grandad had the exact same box of Greyhound Dominoes. My brother and I used to spend hours playing with them as children so seeing this box again was like travelling back in time. Such a magical moment!”

“There were also more traditional Valentine’s items on the stall, like this beautiful heart-shaped chocolate box.”

!Finally, it was time to stop off for a quick cupcake break from Betty Lou’s Bakery before heading home.”

“After trying a Terryriffic Chocolate Orange last time, I settled for Luscious Lemonade this time around. It was just as good! Absolutely scrumptious!”

“Phew! After a long-very happy- day, I headed home, laden with the Madame Fifi Presents money box, a huge red 1960s Samsonite bag from Before Brasilia and the start of a deer collection bought at I Heart Vintage. Altogether a very productive day!”

And there we have it folks – LOVELY INDEED! To hear more from Becky, click HERE and stay tuned tomorrow for our favourite voyeuristic activity – STREET STYLE!

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x

Retro Retail Therapy AHOY!

Morning vintage fans!

Busy as bees this weekend, we wanted to remind YOU that we’ve got two of the best vintage events, like, E-V-E-R coming to London and Edinburgh right now! [sorry - in total Cher mode. Where did I put my fluffy pen..??]

Bringing both Judy’s at Spitalfields AND The Edinburgh Vintage Kilo Sale to your doorstep, click through for details and be sure to say heyy!

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x

Must be love, love, love…

 

Greetings vintage fans!

With February [and V-day!] fast approaching, we’ve gone all googly-eyed for the new month, running an extra-special BLOGGER CHALLENGE at our Spitalfields fair on Saturday!

Partnering up with the wonderful Rosie Steer and Becky Bedbug, the gals shall be compiling our Judy’s Love List, looking for items [like Mr. Sheep below] that we just can’t live without! On the hunt for cute couples and knock-out outfits too, prepare to be papped!

SEE YOU ON SATURDAY YOU LOVELY BUNCH!

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x

Barbie and Ken are ready – are YOU?

Greetings vintage fans!

With payday FINALLY around the corner, we’re quite ready to wave January goodbye and say HELLO FEBRUARY!

With travel on the mind [aren't we all life's great travellers vintage fans? Too deep?? We're going to start saying 'YOLO' before you know it!] we love the very literal merchandising of trader BEFORE BRASILIA, coming to The Old Spitalfields Market this Saturday! Travel guides, work ties, globes, tennis rackets and flasks – enough to make anyone want to fast forward to a sunnier clime pronto!

For any of you yearning for more, take a look at Before Brasilia’s Facebook profile HERE and be sure to pop along to The Old Spitalfields Market THIS SATURDAY for more retro treasures to keep the blues at bay!

Retro Regards,

Judy HQ x