Aug 14
by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Creative, Fashion 0 comments tags: Caroline Stansfield, Children's Clothes, Handmade, The Little Cloth Shop

The Little Cloth Shop – Interview

Today we chat to North London-based seamstress Caroline Stansfield, the woman behind children’s wear brand The Little Cloth Shop. Launched when her son Drake was born, her collection specialises in traditional and vintage inspired designs. Caroline talks Liberty fabric, vegetable dyes, and what she’s learned about running a creative business, with Bibelot.         1. What’s your first sewing memory/experience of sewing? I grew up in a house where my mother sewed everything for myself and my two brothers. She would often be in her study making something beautiful. I would sit on the floor and look through her mothers old silver buttons; I thought they were magical. On every special occasion she would make a new dress for me, I remember there was a particularly horrible pink puff sleeved affair that I loved more than anything. It was the 90s.   2. Your mother was a tailor and your Grandmother a seamstress, when did you decide to continue the family tradition? I have always been interested in sewing, and used to like making costumes for competitions. I started The Little Cloth Shop after my little boy was born as I found it impossible to find alternative but traditional boys clothes. […]
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Apr 22
by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Guests 0 comments tags: Pip Jolly, Vintage

Pip Jolley – A Dedicated Unfollower of Fashion

‘You have to accommodate your pasts within your persona… it helps you reflect on WHAT you are now’ – Bowie.     Clothes are a great way to express your personality. Whether you wear head to toe black, or if you throw on all the colours under the sun (the latter tending to be my port of call when getting dressed these days!) You could say I’m somewhat of an extrovert and I most certainly like to make an effort with what I wear, but for some reason I have never been able to stick to any one particular style for a long period of time. About 3 years ago I found myself stuck in a rut; I was really into ‘vintage’ – and don’t get me wrong I still am – but I just wasn’t having fun getting dressed in the morning. At the time I was working in a vintage reproduction clothing shop full time, and I had to wear the brand’s clothing and look a certain way everyday. I felt my creativity was being stunted, and as I’m not really a fan of wearing an outfit more than a handful of times, my bank balance was suffering […]
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Mar 09
by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Fashion, Guests 0 comments tags: B&Q, Boots, DIY, Zara

B&Q IT

I like boots. And I love my £19.99 (sale RRP £39.99) Zara patent sock boots.     What I don’t like is that I’ll be wearing the same boots as another 1,000 trillion other bargain hunters. So, I wanted to make my pair stand out from the crowd; I’m going to pimp up my stride, DIY style. The SS16 and AW16 catwalks were full of colour, prints, embellishments and general maximalism. Say good bye to blending in. First of all, I needed some inspiration, so I spent a few internet minutes (aka three days) drooling over boots online. Words can’t describe how much I love the Vetements blue heeled sock boots (£775), the Fendi red heeled ankle boots (£870) and the Maison Margiela gold heeled pair (£800).     However, I’m not technically trained, so my DIY skills had to be resurrected from a (very) long ago school technology class. After finding a few pairs that I liked, and because I wore my old Zara Perspex heeled boots to near death, I decided to concentrate solely on the heel of the boot. I took a surprisingly pleasant Saturday, mid afternoon trip to B&Q to check out their self adhesive plastic, […]
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Feb 22
by bibelotm_wp in Creative, Fashion, Interview 0 comments tags: Nick Ozanne, Scarves, Silk, Weave, Weaving

Nick Ozanne – Interview

Today we catch up with weaver Nick Ozanne, the man behind the luxury brand Leto & Ariadne. He’s an award-winner, a workaholic, and a 1980’s film buff. Like his scarves, he is also something of a timeless piece, full of old-school elegance and charm. We wanted to find out more about Nick’s working life and how he manages his growing business.   1. Hello Nick. So tell us, have you always been a weaver of beautiful things? I can’t say that I have always been a weaver of beautiful things or a weaver at all. I did elect to study weave at the Winchester School of Art but at the time the subject hadn’t really gelled with me and I just never hit my stride during my three years of study. I actually graduated declaring that I was never going to weave again.   2. How did you rediscover the joys of weaving? Years later when I was working in London in a very different career I woke up one morning feeling that I would like to try weaving again. This came on the heels of a fairly traumatic time in my life that culminated with the death of my Father. […]
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Jan 20
by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Guests 1 comments tags: Denim, Jeans, Up-cycle

Raw Edge Denim

It’s January, our bank balances are suffering with the blues, but we still want some new clothes – damn, what on earth do we do? Well step away from the store cards and the hustle of the high street – you’re going to “mend and make do” 2016 style. We’ve taken inspiration from the super stylish Leandra Medine (aka Man Repeller), Natalie Hartley (Fashion Director – Glamour Magazine), Erin O’Connor (Supermodel extraordinaire) and Emma Roberts (Actress, Niece of Julia and one hell of a lucky girl – her boyfriend is Evan Peters) who are all wearing raw edge denim jeans.     If you’re a hoarder like me, go and find that pair of straight legged jeans at the back of your wardrobe. You know the ones; you last wore them circa 2006 with a Siena-esque boho top, before skinny jeans gripped the thighs of the nation. If you don’t have any jeans, don’t fret. You’ll simply have to raid the penny jar and take a trip to the charity shops. Save time by hitting the shops in the more affluent suburbs as the people who live in these parts tend to have wardrobe clear outs more often. I visited […]
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Nov 09
by bibelotm_wp in Ethical, Fashion, Guests 0 comments

Fashion Month’s Ethical Designers

From high end to high street Fashion Month consists of four weeks of catwalk shows hosted in the ‘big four’ cities. Taking place twice each year in February and September, the month starts in New York, before moving to London, Milan and finishing in Paris. Women’s ready-to-wear shows gain lots of media coverage, making them the main event in the fashion calendar. But smaller fashion weeks happen in cities all over the world, all the time. While only women’s wear is shown during Fashion Month, leading designers show menswear, cruise, resort, bridal and haute couture collections outside of the four weeks. The fashion world throws its doors open to exhibit and entertain during the month. The main cities host hundreds of catwalk shows, parties and events in a schedule full to the brim. What is it all for? Catwalk shows introduce looks from leading designers, which are then translated into trends and available to the general public in stores around six months later. It’s a trickle down effect where higher and lower end brands alike take inspiration from the shows to create their own ‘consumer-friendly’ versions. This has been the structure of fashion for at least the last ten years. […]
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Aug 17
by bibelotm_wp in Competition, Fashion, Interview, Vintage 7 comments

Super Queenie Retro – Interview + Competition!

Jessie Dodd has spent ten years honing her eagle eye for unique vintage clothes and accessories in order to bring you the very best. Her thriving online store Super Queenie Retro prides itself on providing ‘Vintage for the modern world’, and is a real family business, with husband Tim and daughter Pearl frequently inspiring blog posts and even modelling items from the shop! We’ve done so much modelling that we sometimes joke about teaching others on how to become a model in the vintage world. That’s obviously not going to happen but it would be fun for an off season. Super Queenie staples include floral dresses that pack a punch, leather bags fit for a festival and denim delights galore. Jessie shares what she’s learned about running a business – and tight gold lame trousers – with Bibelot.       1. How did Super Queenie Retro come about… And what’s behind the name? It’s hard to believe but I have been selling vintage for over ten years! When I was 21, I jumped headfirst into having my own shop, RubyRumba, in Norwich. While having a ball and living in my own vintage fantasy land, it was also a steep learning curve […]
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Aug 10
by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Creative, Fashion, Interview 0 comments

I Love Crafty – Interview

Laura Hunter lives in a rainbow-hued world, complete with iridescent flowers, shiny cats and glittery treasures. We caught up with the Disney loving jewellery maker, entrepreneur and all round lovely lady to find out how her passion for fairy tales and all things crafty, have served as inspiration.     1. What was the first piece of jewellery you ever made? It was a necklace for a Christmas present to my sister. It had a bird that could move around the chain and a tree so it looked like it was flying away. She loved it so much she suggested I sell them! I guess I owe her a lot of necklaces since then!   2. Tell us about your typical working day. My typical day works around my daughter and how many naps she takes! I tend to start the working day with coffee, replying to emails then making and packing up orders. In the afternoon I might pop out for more coffee and sketch some designs but I work best at night really, it’s when I have my best ideas!     3. How do you balance family life with your business? It’s really tricky and something I think […]
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Aug 05
by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Guests, Vintage 0 comments

Oxfam Online: The Bibelot Edit

My favourite kind of shopping is charity shop shopping. You never know what you’re going to find. It’s unknown as to what items of clothing are going to spark your imagination and what knick-knacks you just have to go home with! Now Oxfam are giving you the opportunity to browse through gorgeous clothes, rare records, books and kick- knacks with their revamped online shop. Pair the hundreds of unique items with the organisational skill of e-commerce and you are able to seek out treasure at your leisure. If you are looking for a certain brand or designer, there’s a handy search bar to write something specific and you can refine any search by price, relevance and colour. An added bonus is the curated trend selections made by the team at Oxfam Online. They are presented on the homepage of the ‘Shop online’ section of the website, a favourite being the current focus on vintage garments from the 1970’s. Shopping second-hand or vintage means that not everything is handed to you on a plate. I find high street shops tend to organise by colour and have already built up the outfits for you to slip into. But where’s the fun in that? Here at […]
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May 25
by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Oh! You Pretty Things, Shop 0 comments

Oh! You Pretty Things

Each peach pear… pineapple! We’ve come over all fruity this Spring, so we’ve hand-picked a little tutti frutti wish list, just for you.   1. Banana tidy (Yoyo Ceramics)   2. Fruit sunglasses (Later Operator on Etsy)   3. Pineapple iPhone case (Skinnydip London)   4. Fruit skirt (Measure the Treasure on Etsy)   5. Melon purse (New Look)   6. Pear mug (Koloni Stockholm)   7. Pineapple lamp (Oliver Bonas)     Chloë Owens and Chiaki L’Argent
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Apr 22
by bibelotm_wp in Art, Events, Fashion, Reviews 0 comments

Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty – Review

British fashion designer Alexander McQueen was hailed as one of the most innovative designers of recent times, but a new highly anticipated V&A exhibition in celebration of his lifework, Savage Beauty, sadly doesn’t always succeed in showing or explaining why McQueen’s work mattered. The exhibition, which was first seen in New York four years ago, starts with a London section (an added addition not included in the New York exhibition), which features garments from some of McQueen’s first shows such as The Birds (1995) and The Hunger (1996). A large quote from McQueen inscribed on the wall states: “London’s where I was brought up. It’s where my heart is and where I get my inspiration.”     The thinking behind this section, one presumes, was to show how the city was rooted in McQueen’s work. But it doesn’t quite work. Apart from the quote and a voiceover from McQueen, who committed suicide aged 40 five years ago, proclaiming his love for London, and his ideas on beauty, there is very little in the way of explanation about how the capital and McQueen’s early years influenced his work. McQueen was born into a working class family; his dad was a taxi […]
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Apr 13
by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Oh! You Pretty Things, Shop 0 comments

Oh! You Pretty Things

We’re so excited about spring! Flowers are blooming and trees are blossoming. It’s finally getting warmer and all we want to wear is bright colours and lots of patterns. We put this fun little spring wish list together to give you some colourful inspiration.   1. Eva Beaded Clutch (Oliver Bonas)   2. Akila Multi Strand Necklace (Oliver Bonas)   3. Louche Lynda Floral Dress (JOY)   4. Sylvia Blue Spectator Front Buckle Flat (B.A.I.T. Footwear)   5. Moomin Butterfly Tray (Cloudberry Living)   Chiaki L’Argent
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Mar 06
by bibelotm_wp in Craft, Fashion, Interview 1 comments

Jennifer Paganelli – Interview

Step inside the kaleidoscopic world of Sis Boom with us! This enchanting fabric collection was created by designer Jennifer Paganelli. Discover how her adventures to the most beautiful places on earth, and a passion for all things vintage, have served as inspiration.     Your fabrics are all about shared memories and the experiences you had growing up. What fabric line conjures up the happiest memories? I love Queen Street for its name as well as its colors and designs. Such amazing qualities of French, Dutch and Danish influence to give the overall quality of the West Indies.  The colors lend to the local color, steel bands, 3 Kings Day Parade, tropical winds, sea glass, the seas undeniable graduated blues and the overall confluence of senses.  These were the Golden years of St.Croix. The 70’s were an extraordinary time for the islands. Cruise ships, duty free, was all the talk!!! The Island streets having been owned by the Danes were mostly named in Danish, the translation brought in their heretige and linked them to their home country, for Kings and Queens recognized by the populous.     Vintage style has clearly influenced your design process. What is it about the […]
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Feb 24
by bibelotm_wp in Fashion 0 comments

Isabella Blow: A life in fashion

Eight years after her death the life of celebrated British fashion stylist and muse, Isabella Blow, continues to inspire. Her death by suicide was almost eight years ago, but Isabella Blow’s presence still looms large over the fashion industry. There have been exhibitions, documentaries, countless books, a play and a film about her life is planned. And now with the V&A’s eagerly awaited exhibition, Savage Beauty, celebrating the life of her former protégée, the late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, set to open in less than a month, the spotlight is on her life once again. So what makes Isabella Blow such a fascinating and enduring cultural figure?     A fashion leader Born Isabella Delves Broughton in 1958 to an aristocratic family, Blow loved fashion more than life itself. Her commitment and dedication to the cause was total. She achieved notoriety for her extravagant dress sense, which consisted of wild Philip Treacy hats, bright lippie, colourful dresses, and for wearing men’s sliders, sometimes mismatched. But she was much more than that. She was a stylist, fashion editor, muse, scout, collector and a nurturer of young fashion and design talent, but above all else she was a fashion ambassador, and champion, and […]
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Feb 13
by bibelotm_wp in Fashion, Oh! You Pretty Things, Shop 0 comments

Oh! You Pretty Things

Brrrr! Baby, it’s cold outside, and sometimes all you feel like doing is snuggling under the duvet and staying there ‘till Springtime. But Bibelovers, hibernating is for hedgehogs, and we’ve found the perfect wintery wishlist to help warm the cockles of your hearts and souls against the elements. Umbrella (Orla Kiely) Wellies (Country Attire) Cape (Tara Starlet) Mittens (Sally Nencini) Thermos Flask  (Not on the Highstreet) Chloë Owens
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Bibelot is about more than craft projects; it represents an imaginative and sustainable way of life. Readers will feel stimulated, uplifted and motivated. Bibelot will begin its life as a blog, an online hub bringing artistic, original and innovative people together. It’s a space for sharing ideas, learning and sparking inspiration!
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