So you may or may not have read it but I recently blogged about going to LondonEdge a few weeks ago (you can read about it here) and I mentioned that I went to see Ree Ree Rockette's seminar on blogging. She made a brilliant point, and I'm not sure why it hadn't really occurred to me before, that most people in life and especially when it comes to fashion, like to take bits and pieces from subcultures rather than indulging it in fully. When it comes to pinup and mid century fashion, I was like this for a very long time; I would wear mostly everyday clothes such as basic jeans and t-shirts and would every so often 'sample' bits of 50s style clothing when it came to parties or special occasions. Eventually, I got around to dressing pinup full time but not all people are like that for a various number of reasons.
I've decided to post about my favourite affordable vintage reproduction brands with those people in mind. My mum, for example, is a person who loves vintage repro clothing like me but decides to only sample from it from time to time as she finds it too expensive to keep up full time. I have the advantage of still being able to live at home and not have very many outgoings so I can afford to dress vintage full time!
Arguably one of the most well known reproduction brands, Collectif Clothing are ridiculously reliable for having some of the best sales going. I have built up quite a collection in my wardrobe through their sales and regular discount codes they offer. Collectif are also one of those brands that can offer transition type pieces for those that aren't feeling confident enough to wear a full-on 50s style outfit but want a bit of an edge. They recently had a big 75% off sale and I bought so much stuff I pretty much have a brand new wardrobe. They're brilliant.
Always a firm favourite of mine, Lindy Bop have one of the biggest selection of affordable repro clothing going. You could spend hours and hours on their site choosing what to wear as there is that much to choose from. Their selection covers a good range of both 40s and 50s fashion from dresses and tops to shorts, skirts and trousers all which come under a range of about £35. I own a few Lindy Bop dresses now (and a top which is actually an amazing dupe for a Pinup Girl Clothing one) and I've only had one dress that was a bit iffy but it didn't stop me from buying there again and I'm so glad. If you need any help, their customer services team are fantastic.
3) Voodoo Vixen
This is a good brand to go for if you prefer 'quirkier' and more kitsch style dresses. They do prints ranging from cats all the way to nautical themes. The price range of the dresses vary from around the £35 to up to £60 but most are in the middle of that and so are very affordable. My opinion on Voodoo Vixen is that they make stunning dresses and cardigans (oh the cardigans are wonderful) which have always been in very good quality in my opinion. Overall, I have a lot of love for Voodoo Vixen, their price range and quality of clothing. They offer a good variety of styles and even have a plus range too.
This is a good brand to go for if you prefer 'quirkier' and more kitsch style dresses. They do prints ranging from cats all the way to nautical themes. The price range of the dresses vary from around the £35 to up to £60 but most are in the middle of that and so are very affordable. My opinion on Voodoo Vixen is that they make stunning dresses and cardigans (oh the cardigans are wonderful) which have always been in very good quality in my opinion. Overall, I have a lot of love for Voodoo Vixen, their price range and quality of clothing. They offer a good variety of styles and even have a plus range too.
Like Voodoo Vixen, Hell Bunny have a lovely range of kitsch 50s style dresses. I have a few of them myself which I bought when I was first starting out in the pinup world. They cover quite a few alternative clothing styles and whilst I'm not particularly a fan of their goth-ier range, their 50s stuff is beautiful, well made and usually only around £40-45 a dress. These dresses are also particularly great if you're not fancying wearing pinup full time. If you're lucky, you can usually find some of their dresses floating about the web for a discount price. My favourite place to grab their dresses is through Amazon or Tiger Milly, however quite a few online retailers stock them as well.
Admittedly and definitely ashamedly, Lady V is a brand I tend to forget about often. Yes, shame on you Sarah! I love both Lady V London and Lady Voluptuous, the latter being a collaboration between Lady V and Georgina from Fuller Figure Bust. Lady V is also a plus size friendly brand which I love and their dresses are so pretty and perfect for weddings and parties. Their dresses are around the £40-50 range but often I have also seen them do discounts and codes particularly around special events, so keep your eye out.
What is your favourite affordable brand? Let me know in the comments.
