Gently Worn Vintage – Vintage Clothing

Gently Worn Vintage, a vintage clothing boutique with an online store will be opening its doors at Alfies Antiques Market, 1st Floor, 13 Church Street, London NW8 8DT on Thursday 9th December with a Press and VIP’s night.

Elegance from the beginning

Gently Worn Vintage is a family run business by Carole and her daughter Sarah, who comes from a career in the fashion industry. Carole has always had an eye for anything vintage, she started collecting pieces as many do via Ebay and vintage fairs, for her own personal wardrobe. She had many pieces around the house and friends and family immediately coveted them. It seemed that Carole has an eye for what people like and a inkling towards glamour and elegance rather than retro vintage. Slowly Carole started to build up stock via the vintage fairs in Hammersmith and Clerkenwell and it was via those that she became well known for finding those ‘key pieces’ that really have a history to them.

Carole went on to sell her collections through Ebay and then on to high end boutiques, to style celebrities such as Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley, Kate Moss and Jo Woods, the Notting Hil crowd and one dress from a Hammersmith find became the inspiration dress to Paul Smith’s Spring 2011 collection. Carole quickly grew a reputation amongst her clients for beautifully individual and elegant timeless pieces. It was then that she decided to set up a website to showcase and sell her pieces and the name Gently Worn came about from the American name for vintage items.

Gently Worn – Vintage Clothing with a history

Each piece in the Gently Worn boutique is individually sourced from around the world, chosen for their beauty and timelessness. Carole and Sarah focus on finding really beautiful pieces with a history behind them focusing in Occasionwear and Eveningwear. There is nothing worse than going to an event where the person across the room is in the same outfit as you, but by shopping at Gently Worn that won’t happen anymore. All items are one-off pieces of true workmanship, usually sourced from personal collections, there is no fear in following the fashion pack in these items as you’ll be creating a truly individual style. As Carole explains “people won’t come here for the latest trend, they will come here for something special”. Gently Worn Vintage’s collection includes coats and jackets, vintage day dresses, exquisite evening gowns, suits and separates and vintage jewellery and accessories to compliment any outfit. Here are a few of pieces available online and that will be available in the soon to be opened boutique:

Vintage Evening Gowns

This glamorous peach reproduction 1930′s Gown is one of a set of three coordinating bridesmaid dresses, each of which differ in design and cut but complement one another perfectly.  Designed and made in the 1960′s this empire line dress has a deep V shaped bodice. Made from a sumptuous peach satin and fully lined in a dusky peach rayon. Perfect as an evening dress or as a bridesmaid dress.

A beautiful example of a 1940s evening gown, is this stunning emerald green with black lace. The dress is made from gorgeous silk with a soft black lace over. A subtle circle pattern on the lace adds detail to the dress, without detracting from it’s simple lines.  This is a sensual dress using superb quality fabrics. The soft flowing lines of the dress embody the timeless elegance of the post war years, when womens desire for a touch of hollywood luxury was ever growing.

Vintage Day Dresses

Little Black Dresses, the perfect Day Dresses by Gently Worn Vintage

A Sophisticated 1950s Little Black Dress With Sequin Detail.  Every wardrobe should have a little black dress and here are two fabulous ones from a bygone era. This Sophisticated Dress is perfect for an evening out with friends and for parties. It is a wonderful example of the relevance of Vintage in contemporary fashion, and it’s influence on it. The dress is so modern and fresh, it is hard to believe it is nearly 60 years old !

This Peggy French Couture Garment is a very sophisticated example of a 1960s shift dress with twist. The dress is gathered at the side of the waist to a beautifully embellished motif of black stones and sequins. Just showing how the Gently Worn team find simple but exquisite pieces for their boutique.

Vintage accessories and jewellery from the 1920′s through to the 1960′s

Vintage Jewellery & Accessories, by Gently Worn Vintage

This 1930s Bugle Bead Evening Bag is a gorgeous evening bag with art deco beading.  This fabulous little bag is such a timeless piece which would look great with any outfit.

These 1950s Black Dior Opera Gloves are a very soft suede elbow length opera glove.  The epitome of glamour. No true lady would leave for the ball without her gloves and these are truly one of the finest pairs that Carole and Sarah have found. The gloves are elbow length with three small inner buttons at the wrist.

Vintage Pieces Photography by David Bartholomew.

This is only a taste of what Gently Worn Vintage have to offer, make sure you check out their online store and head to the boutique when it is open. The boutique will give a chance to be able to see and touch those amazing pieces and get “the whole vintage experience” as Carole explained to LadyM. Gently Worn are also able to source to a client’s brief, particularly when it comes to wedding gowns and bridesmaids outfits. In the future the ladies plan to have vintage themed events at the boutique, hen parties, birthdays, vintage tea parties, the vintage world is their oyster.

Gently Worn – Careful Sourcing

Gently Worn focus on couture pieces with detailed construction and amazing fabrics but Carole explains that if you are new to vintage it is best “to start with accessories such as jewellery or a bag or a statement dress”. Advice from Carole and Sarah is not to “do vintage from head to toe, its all about mixing your decades”. Styling advice will be available from the ladies at their London boutique and they are both keen to make vintage more ‘wearable’, one way is by finding daydresses that fit your individual style and starting there as a base.

Gently Worn Vintage showcased last year at Tunbridge Wells Fashion Week to rave reviews and continued their success just last week at the A/W Tunbridge Wells Fashion Week. They wowed the people of Kent town with some elegant and exclusive pieces and brought vintage home, inspiring many and inviting a lot of interest in the opening of their boutique. It was also the chance to showcase work from the Welsh Milliner Catherine Povey who has been commissioned to design twelve bespoke pieces for the Gently Worn boutique. Gently Worn focus on true vintage accessories and the use of vintage inspired materials and fabrics, something close to Catherine’s own heart.  Gently Worn Vintage is just what the fashion capital, London has been looking for in terms of a elegant, individual vintage boutique. It’s bound to be a raring success, remember the boutique opens on Thursday 2nd December and the online store is open now!

Win a vintage makeover courtesy of Gently Worn Vintage

Gently Worn Vintage and LadyM Presents are giving you the opportunity to win a vintage makeover with their neighbour’s Ninas Vintage Hair Parlour.  The makeover involves a hair and make up makeover as well as vintage styling advice and a free vintage goody bag to take away.

The competition will be open until the 7th of December and winner announced via email. The winner must make their own way to London.