Autumn/winter 2013/14 shows no departure from that winning formula, with tartan, tweed and Fairisle knits all given the Boden treatment thanks to bold colour pops, sharp cuts and delicate detailing.

We love the authentic leather kilt buckles and velvet trim of the houndstooth jacket. But our favourite piece for autumn/winter has to be the on-trend tartan trousers – tapping into both the punk and grunge revivals and serving up true statement style.

Of course no new season Boden preview would be complete without mention of its instantly recognisable children’s range – so pretty we wish it was available in grown-up sizes. Corduroy tunics and romper suits in floral, woodland and farmyard prints and cotton dresses and skirts depicting country cottage scenes will make for some very happy Mini Boden fans come autumn.

Take a look at some of the Boden best in show below…

Heritage fabrics

Fairisle knits

Countryside prints

Vintage clothing and homewares, press clippings, catalogues and previously unseen film and photographs will tell the story of the Welsh designer who began screen-printing fabric for quilts in 1953 after she failed to find what she was looking for in London shops.

If you’re forgotten just how important the high street shop’s Victorian-inspired fashions were in the 1970s and 1980s, remind yourself below. And keep an eye out for a report from the exhibition, along with an autumn/winter preview, coming to Vintage Brighton in June.

To find out how to apply for tickets to the exhibition, visit www.lauraashley.com and preview the current issue of Mollie Makes at www.molliemakes.com. 

What? 1965 Mattel Barbie Thermos – £25

Where? Jolly Nice at Lewes Pop-Up Vintage Fair

Why? Since writing an article for Vintagexplorer Magazine celebrating Sindy’s 50th birthday (coming soon), the transformation of the Western World’s favourite dolls has become something of a fixation. So when I spotted this 1965 metal Barbie Thermos, portraying Barbie, younger sister Skipper and friend Midge, at the Lewes Pop-Up Vintage Fair it was love at first sight.

The lunch-box sized Thermos shows a much older and more sophisticated Barbie to the one we’re used to, with the cropped, coiffured hair, petticoat and pearls typical of early 1960s US fashion. Midge is equally glamorous in bandeau circle skirt dress and kitten heels and Skipper’s bobby socks, skirt and T-shirt combo shout all-American girl.

You’ll also note that we’ve been let into a little secret – Barbie is a natural red-head! Does anyone know when she became bottle blond?

More? Jolly Nice has a stall on the first floor of the Lewes Antique Centre, 20 Cliffe High Street.

To find out more about this enchanting orginal Art Nouveau venue, we caught up with producer of The Famous Spiegel Garden, David Bates…

How old is the Spiegeltent that is in town for The Brighton Festival?

This spiegeltent is called The Moulin Rouge and was built in 1918 in Herentals in Belgium. The builders were Oscar Mols Dom and Louis Gorr.

What design features are common in all Spiegeltents?

Spiegeltents are free-standing structures that can be erected on soft or hard surfaces. Their circular structures are decorated in an Art Nouveau style with bevelled mirrors, wooden booth seating with glass partitions, a false ceiling of velvet canopies and a dance floor.

How did you become involved with Spiegeltents?

I first played jazz in The Famous Spiegeltent when it was used by the Edinburgh Jazz Festival in 1989 and in 1995 was part of a resident jazz band at The Edinburgh Book Festival. I fell in love with the structure and hired it in 1996 to produce my first Fringe season in Edinburgh and produced another successful season in 2007. Since then it has taken over my life – I bought The Famous Spiegeltent in 2001 and have taken it around the world.

Why is Brighton Festival to right place for a Spiegeltent?

Brighton is the perfect demographic and a very ‘Spiegel’ place. I know of no other more perfect environment in the world. The Spiegeltent would be good in Brighton with or without the festival; it is the perfect location by the seaside in the British summer.

In which other locations has this tent been erected in recent years?

Edinburgh, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Avignon… this particular tent has been to many places that I am un aware of. My tent is called The Famous Spiegeltent and that’s why we call this project The Famous Spiegel Garden. We have a particular way of using Spiegeltents, which makes our projects outstanding and unique. We are not just erecting a tent and putting any programme in it. We carefully craft the project and run it in a specialised way. We also create original work specifically for our own projects – such as La Clique.

Where does the tent live between festivals and how is it transported?

It lives in 40ft shipping containers and is usually in transit somewhere in the world.

How many hours and people does it take to erect the tent?

It takes a specialised team of five people about 10 hours to erect. The team comes from Belgium from a family of spiegeltent owners and builders who have been in the business for five generations.

What type of skills are employed in the maintenance of the tent?

Spiegeltents are very robust structures and look more fragile than they are. They require occasional maintenance such as wood work and some glass repair but they transport efficiently and are very durable. The substructure is steel and aluminium and the ceilings are made of velvet and brocade; these things sometimes need attention but there is no particular maintenance regime. The work need not be done by people who have experience of Spiegeltents.

What type of acts would have performed in the Spiegeltent in the late and early 19th and 20th centuries?

Spiegeltents were originally travelling dance halls so most of the entertainment was in the form of travelling dance organs and live dance bands. They travelled with the fairgrounds, which came to villages once a year. Spiegeltents collect the ghosts of their previous locations and these ghosts come out every time the containers are opened. So like may old buildings the sense of history is palpable and adds to the experience.

How do you choose acts that suit the venue today?

Acts usually contact me as the reputation of the spiegeltent is well established around the world these days. I am the only spiegeltent owner in the world who is an theatrical producer – all the other owners are tent hirers. I usually programme based on what I love and my own personal taste rather than what will sell tickets although luckily my taste is commercial enough to allow the business to survive. It is a family business so my family also decide what we programme and where we go.

Why is it important that such venues remain in use?

The Spiegeltent is intimate and magical and a perfect size for artists such as Camille O’Sullivan, Rufus Wainright and Tom Waits. Some of these artists, of course, are far too big to be seen in the spiegeltent now but their work is better suited to a spiegeltent than any other place. The audience get an enhanced experience and the communication between the artists and the audience is invariably more special in a spiegeltent. It is a unique and extraordinary place.

Find out more about The Famous Spiegeltent at www.spiegeltent.net

Images by Sarah Olivier Photography. 

Over croissants and a cuppa the team at Beyond Retro unveiled their new and soon-to-be-hitting-stores ranges and my-oh-my are you in for a treat!

From easy-to-wear Sixties-inspired monochrome shirts and shifts to quirky silk shorts, not forgetting the aptly-named ‘Prints Charming’ collection (think Mick Hucknell meets Pat Butcher and you’re there) and statement shade there’s something for every vintage-lover to get very excited about this summer.

Other highlights include the return of the popular unisex baseball/ jock jackets, a nod to the 1950s and late ’80s sports trend, and chunky knits perfect for breezy Brighton evenings.

After making some mental calculations to see if I could buy all of pieces right there and then, the BR team hit me with yet more must-haves to add to the shopping list in the form of their up-cycled one-of-a-kind pieces.

Re-worked and re-loved, this collection marries contemporary trends with timeless styles and includes denim shorts updated with African print trim, men’s shirts transformed into ladies pussy-bow blouses, pin-up inspired tie-front shirts, bright 1960s shift dresses and the most fabulous velvet colour block two-piece for autumn/winter.

One of the most eye-catching pieces was from the talented team’s newest designer, who created the gorgeous ditzy floral and paisley print crop top above (in store from July) that could be teamed with anything from a ’50s A-line skirt to a ’70s maxi.

And if that’s not enough for you, the store are teaming up with tattoo embroider extraordinaire Jenny King on Saturday 11 May for a pain-free pop-up tattoo parlour. Phew, just a little bit going on then!

Launched by sisters Clare and Mary Burgess in March 2012, the Allium B range boasts understated, flattering and go-anywhere dresses inspired by vintage finds.

“We wanted to design dresses that aren’t too young, too old, too short or too long”, explains Mary. “Most women don’t have time to waste; they want versatile flattering dresses that can be thrown on for an instant outfit and accessorised to create their own style.”

Among the dresses available at the sale are Amelia; inspired by a 1940s collar Mary found at Chelsea Vintage Fair,  Lily; which took its name from a 1930s dress spotted in Lily Allen’s boutique Lucy in Disguise, and Clara; developed from an a Victorian lace glove. Each will be priced at £30.

Verity and her team of stylists are based in London, but travel the country and even the globe with brushes, pins and product in hand. Indeed, when we meet Verity has just returned from Rockabilly festival Viva Las Vegas. But while full-on Forties’ and Fifties’ glamour is The Vanity Box’s stock in trade, being presented with a make-up and hair novice respectively, ours was more of a gentle introduction to the world of beauty brands and techniques.

Having established that I don’t wear foundation, lipstick or do anything with my eyebrows – it was back to basics with tips on mineral based cover-ups (kind to the skin, one pot of Micabella foundation powder will apparently last up to one year), the softest beauty brushes sold in Boots (Realtechniques FYI) and a quick colour-match consultation (pink pigments mean that blush is best in bronze).

With Verity patient, funny and knowledgeable in equal measures, the face-time was a joy in itself and the results something of a revelation – you really don’t have to look like you’re wearing a lot of slap to bring those all important features into focus.

VB friend Natasha was next to step up to the beauty confessional; admitting that she doesn’t do anything other than occasionally straighten her silky hair and won’t wear it up. A compromise was reached around a half-up/half-down do, with simply setting bringing bounce to her long locks and delicate pin detail work adding the finishing touches to the retro glamour style.

As we headed off for some post-beautifying posing – it was decided that JB’s Diner had tables shiny enough to reflect our new glow and a menu fitting my Sugarhill Boutique sundae knit – Verity offered her final nugget of Americana know-how: “Coke floats, oh you mean Brown Cows”. Who knew?

The Vanity Box offer a range of vintage beauty services, from one-to-one appointments and parties, through wedding hair and makeup to tutorials and pin-up photo-shoot packages. Visit www.thevanitybox.co.uk and contact Verity on verity@thevanitybox.co.uk.To book a hair appointment at Simon Webster Hair, call 01273 605577.

Wearing: H&M candy floss bomber jacket, Sugarhill Boutique jumper (press sample), gingham capri pants from Armstrongs Vintage, Edinburgh and patent pumps from a charity shop.

The pop-up parlour will be open from 10am to 6pm, with tattoo designs starting at just £5. Just take along a piece of clothing you’d like personalised, or buy an item from Beyond Retro, choose from a selection of designs and watch as Jenny’s 1950s sewing machines work their magic.

Jenny King has been working in the textile industry since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2002 and has worked for clients including Erdem, Mary Katrantzou and Stella McCartney. She has also sold designs to fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Armani and Diane Von Furstenberg.

“This is perfect for anyone who loves tattoos, retro designs and vintage clothes – and needlephobes everywhere!” says Kate Peters, managing director at Beyond Retro. “Jenny’s designs are edgy yet classic – such an interesting way to spruce up your favourite shirt and a great memento of your time at Brighton Festival.”

The ladies: Forties-style victory rolls and curls were a strong contender for the most popular hair-do of the day – worn of course with a slick of lipstick – whilst pleated maxi skirts and dresses look likely to be key pieces for spring/summer.

The gents: For the menfolk it was all about bold and bright patterned shirts, slicked-back quiffs and funky brothel creepers – Rockabilly with an Eighties twist – or alternatively, traditional tweeds.

The shopping: Many shoppers were after that perfect dress for the summer.

The refreshments: Vintage Scoops offered refreshing ice cream outside, which I managed to find room for even after a generous helping of tea and cake inside!

The verdict: I can’t think of a better Sunday day out for vintage fashion fans.

All images by Georgie d’Albiac Brewin. Read our My Vintage Brighton Q&A with burlesque performer Georgie here. 

So what should you wear? To answer this all-important question, Goodwood has published a Dress and Style Guide (edited by Nick Clements) to lead you through the most popular options.

Read extracts from the book below and for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the event, leave a comment over on our competition post - where you’ll also find opt-in details – telling us which look you’d adopt.

The Lady Cyclist

“The Revival encourages lady visitors to join the elite band of Tweed Cyclists abroad on the highways and byways of this land. Attend the event in appropriate jacket and breeches for the post-war effect, or perhaps choose the ‘Continental’ racing look that reflects the 19690s.”

The Female Flyer

“All you need is a leather or woven-fabric flying jacket with a fur collar, jodhpurs or all-in-one flying suit and a pair of fur-lined RAF boots or similar. A leather or textile flying helmet, preferably very worn, tops off the entire uniform.”

L’Automobilista

“Imagine yourself in a painting by Tamara de Lempicka, fabric flying helmet, long silk scarf thrown over one shoulder, white cotton overalls, rouged lips and your hands on the wheel!”

Rosie the Riveter

“Decked-out in tough denim overalls with wide legs for easy movement, strong shoes or boots, a chambray shirt and hair tied-up with a red and white bandana, poster girl Rosie the Riveter forged the outcome of the war from San Diego, Detroit and Pittsburgh.”

The Women’s Land Army

“To transform into an authentic Land Girl you really need to hunt down a pair of khaki or beige breeches in the early example of whipcord or the later corduroy. The bottle green vee-neck wool sweater can be new, but should be made from Shetland or lamb’s wool.”

WAAFS

“Although your belted tunic is of the men’s four-pocket style, it is cut to flatter the female form. The paneled A-line skirt should be well below the knee and blue-grey woolen stockings lead to sturdy black lace-up shoes of a very modest heel height.”

WRNS

“This is the type of outfit you might be able to hire from a fancy-dress company, which will make things easy, or you might decide to go the whole hog and acquire your own uniform. Remember, the most precious element of any military lady’s ensemble is her standard issue shoulder bag.”

Nurses

“One way to bring out your femininity and look the part with some of the US Forces re-enactors is to wear standard Second World War of Korean Ware era ladies’ US Army fatigues with a Red Cross armband and hair pinned up. And a rosy pout, just remember, they all loved Hot Lips.”

The ATS and WACS

“All restricting uniforms offer the opportunity to embellish and decorate in an individual way. Tie pins, (self-awarded corps and attainment patches and elaborate 1940s hair-dos all allow the individual to express their personal take on style.”

La Corsetiere

“The Goodwood pit lane has long been the domain of the glamour girl. Drawn to the world of fast cars by the charismatic drivers, these women set their own style during The Circuit’s golden years and a well-fitted corset and sheer stockings were vital garments.”

Starlets and Divas

“Everyone who comes dresses for Goodwood  Revival is a star, but some have more star quality than others and that could be you. Just pick your favourite film or female lead and you have a template reader for your debut on-set performance.”

The Great British Housewife

“Get some short pants for your little boy with a grey shirt and school cap and tie, and a school uniform with straw boater for your little girl. Get the old man into tweeds and an original trilby and for yourself, find an original two-piece tweed suit with a velvet collar.”

Lindy Hoppers, Bobby-Soxers and Jitter-Bug Jivers

“American bobby-soxers wore the sportswear of the period such as rubber-soled saddle shoes, pedal-pushers and a cap sleeve blouse. Circular skirts that came just past the knee were also popular and both, of course, were matched with ankle length bobby-sox.”

Hot Rod Girl

“A mixture of skate, surf, tiki and custom motorcycle aesthetics all contribute to the hot rod enthusiast’s wardrobe. Just a black leather jacket, gingham, blouse, turned-up calf-length jeans and a pair of Vans gives you an instant passport to the world of rodding.”

The House Model

“Assuming the role of the house model gives you the chance to wear a couture gown to this most fashionable event, perhaps from one of the great London houses such as Hartnell of Hardy Amies, or from a modern-day designer who has chosen to give your outfit a revival cut.”

Teddy Girls

“The Teddy girls partly mimicked their male counterparts and in doing so created a unique look of their own. That personal look couldn’t just be bought off the peg but had to be made and invented by the girl herself. Why not try a cameo brooch at the neck of your blouse?”

Carnaby Girls

“Take your research around London from Carnaby Street to the King’s Road and then on to Paris and Milan. We all know Mary Quant, but what about Pierre Cardin? And Courreges, who Space Age collection in 1964 pre-dated a similar look from Cardin first shown in 1967.”

Café Racer

“Purchasing British classic leathers is a once in a lifetime decision so look and try before you buy. Once you have your black leather (or denim) jeans, British leather jacket and 1960s motorcycle boots, you just need a long white silk scarf.”

The Jeepster Family

“Tweeds for the adults and short pants for the kids is a great look on a sunny day in September. Why not put on a period titfer too and bring the binoculars granddad used to take to the races?”

A Lady’s Guide to Dress and Style at the Goodwood Revival and A Gentleman’s Guide to dress and Style at the Goodwood Revival is edited by Nick Clements and published by Goodwood Road Racing Company Ltd. Buy your copy here.