In November 2012 the newest vintage shop to open it's creative doors in Pokesdown, Bournemouth's vintage quarter was 'Cotton Candy'. 

Owners Emily South and Cara Lloyd-Hopkins make a variety of handmade products, and also stock vintage wares. This includes handbags, clothing, fashion accessories, home wares, furniture, haberdashery, bric a brac and other curiosities.

After an opportunity arose from the Boscombe Regeneration Partnership ‘Talent’ scheme, Emily and Cara were able to fulfill their lifelong ambition to open their own shop, where they can showcase their creativity.

The inspiration behind their work is; "Finding that perfect piece of fabric, button or trim that inspires you to create something new."

Why open a shop in Pokesdown? 

"Pokesdown is becoming well known for its artisan atmosphere. With the antique and vintage stores, and quirky handmade shops, there really is something for everyone."

From Cotton Candy you can expect homespun vintage sweetness, with a friendly atmosphere and great customer service.

They will be selling at February's Boscombe Vintage Market , and will soon be launching sewing classes - more details to follow!

Find them at 903-905 Christchurch Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth BH7 6AX (Tues - Sat / 11am - 4pm)

You can follow Cotton Candy on Facebook

Tel: 01202 430558

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Images : Nicki Grainger

In the centre of Bournemouth's vintage quarter resides Lisa Watson's unique shop 'Lil' Vintage', a business brimming with bespoke home wares, upcycled furniture and vintage collectibles.

First launched in April, last week Lisa moved to a more spacious premises - just on the opposite side of the road! The newly re-opened shop has a small workshop at the rear so Lisa can be found working on pieces whilst being in the shop. We caught up with her for five minutes to have a nosy...

BV: Oooh, the new shop looks lovely! Tell us about how you got started;

Lisa: "I had always wanted to sell my upcycled furniture so opening the shop had realised a childhood dream. There is no job I would rather do. I chose Lil' Vintage as the shop name as I take a Little piece of vintage and by redesigning and upcycling bring the piece bang up to date. I have never worked in this industry before but have always upcycled and produced items which I have sold or created for friends and family. I even found some 'upcycled' pieces in my parents attic that I had made as a child!

In the past I have worked in finance and have studied interior design. My mum is very artistic and my dad is the sort of person who can turn his hand to anything - I believe that I have inherited these qualities from them which is why this is the only thing I want to do now I have finally taken the plunge! I chose Pokesdown to sell in as I think my shop suits the area - the quirky, vintage feel of Pokesdown is what appeals to me and I couldn't imagine the shop being anywhere else."

BV: So what is Lil' Vintage all about?

Lisa: "Unusual, individual items that give a wow factor to their home. Pieces that can't be found in any other shop in the local area - pieces that are truly 'one offs'. I love finding original furniture that some people may ignore and then imagining how or in what way it can be changed and improved.

The pieces in my shop cover a wide price range starting from £5.00 through to £190 for the larger pieces. The price is dependent on the original cost and the amount of time that I have spent upcycling each piece. I try as best I can to keep my prices as reasonable as possible as this is as much a hobby for me as it is a business."

BV: Where do you get your inspiration?

Lisa: "I get my ideas, as cliché as it sounds, from anywhere and everywhere, I can sometimes wake up in the middle of the night with an idea and will add it to the ever growing list on my phone of future projects.

My inspiration is a desire to improve or change a piece of furniture that could be classed as 'rubbish' or 'dated' to a lot of people - seeing a piece that looked ready for the tip be transformed into an item which is practical, stylish and gives a wow factor is all the inspiration I need.

My favourite thing about what I do is starting a new project - seeing the idea from my mind come into fruition gives me a genuine feeling of contentment."

BV: Talk us through a typical day in the life of Lil' Vintage...

Lisa: "A typical day starts with the school run and walking my pugs. If its not an open day in the shop I will be in my workshop or sourcing new items, auctions, internet, bric-a-brac shops etc - I would then be busy sanding down, painting and creating the pieces.

I always have 3-4 items at various stages of completion so am always busy. If I am in the shop I really enjoy interacting with the customers, being able to discuss and accommodate various customer requests is one of my favourite things about Lil' Vintage."

BV: What advice would you give shoppers new to the world of vintage and upcycled?

Lisa: "My advice to anyone new to shopping in the Vintage/Secondhand/Upcycled area is to buy the pieces you fall in love with. I have learnt myself that leaving a shop to 'think about it' only to come back to find it is sold is upsetting - the pieces you find within this category are generally one offs completely different to shopping on the high street - so if you love it buy it!"

BV: Any goodies in your shop at the moment that might make a great Christmas pressie?

Lisa: "Ideal Christmas presents from Lil' Vintage would be the upcycled candelabras, handbags made from gents ties, or upcycled coasters. But I'd like to think that anything from Lil' Vintage would be great under your Christmas tree!"

BV: ....and what plans do you have for Lil' Vintage's big future?

Lisa: "This year my main objective was to get the shop up and running and to complete the website - 2013 will be the year in which I start taking Lil' Vintage to the vintage fairs and markets. Really trying to get our name out there and being able to sell more items from my website are my hopes for next year."

Visit Lil' Vintage at 871 Christchurch Road, Pokesdown, Boscombe. Opening hours are:

Weds & Thurs: 10.30 - 14.45 / Fri: 10.30 - 13.45 / Sat: 11 - 17.30

You can find Lisa online at www.lilvintage.co.uk or on her facebook page.

Tel: 07983 428477

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Images by NIcki Grainger

Let's see your style guys and gals!

Got an outift you love? Wanna show of an ensemble?

Email us your style pics to editor@bournemouthvintage.com and we'll upload them to our Facebook page. (One image per person)

Whoever gets the most 'likes' wins a vintage goody bag and free entry for themselves and a friend to the vintage shoppers haven Judy's affordable fair coming to The Hotel Picadilly on Sunday 21 October.

Get snapping! Don't forget to share your photo online to get more votes!

xxx

{Left: Troy of Troy's barbers in Pokesdown Right: Jason, Mr Barber of Southbourne on Sea}

Gentleman’s hairstyling and grooming has regained popularity in more recent years, and among the growing vintage scene in and around the Bournemouth area - there is the much sought after niche expertise of a vintage barber to complete the look, and for many, the lifestyle.

We spoke to local vintage inspired barbers Troy and Jason. Two very different barbers with one thing in common, making gents look damn cool, one vintage barbershop at a time.

Troy, 21, opened his very own premises ‘Troy’s Barbers’ on Christchurch Road just over a year ago. Set to vintage rockabilly music in the background sits his extremely comfortable grandfather’s vintage green armchair, and the walls are lined with original antique black and white framed photographs and signed Ink Spots memorabilia.

{Troy's barbers in Pokesdown}

Jason, already a widely known character in the local area, has been photographed numerous times in his eccentric dandy mans decorative barber shop backdrop – adorned with vintage scissors, old fashioned wallpaper and inspiring grooming collectibles sat in antique wooden cabinets.

{Mr Barbers in Southbourne on Sea}

BV: How did you get started?

Troy: I’ve been in the industry six years, I did mainstream hairdressing in Bournemouth and worked in barbers in Charminster and Castle Lane before opening own place in Pokesdown. I decided to go it alone, with no staff, I find it easier to manage my own place. Over the last year it’s picked up a lot and been really busy, mostly with regular customers but I still have new people now and then.

Jason: I have been in the industry eight years – I used to be a psychiatric nurse! One day I read a tattoo magazine and saw a US barber shop and loved the way it looked and that prompted my career change, so I trained in hair styling and traditional wet shaving.

BV: What can people expect from your barbers then?

Troy: Here I offer both modern and vintage styling. (What does he mean by vintage styling exactly?) Ducktails, slick tops, pompadours, quiffs, right up to 80’s glam rock haircuts for men. I also do cut throat shaving, with old fashioned razors becoming more popular and it’s better for the skin.

Jason: I can provides styling from the 1920’s right up to 1950’s for people events or just everyday style. The ‘short back and sides’ style of the 40’s / 50’s is the most popular look at the moment with gentleman. I also do a lot with moustache styling, facial hair is a huge trend right now, [especially with ‘Movember’, the popular annual moustache-growing charity event]

BV: Do you have a typical client?

Troy: Not at all! My clients can be aged from six to seventy years old! Most people know exactly what style they want when they come here, but I’d advise anyone not used to vintage style to start off with a more normal quiff, one length all over – but it depends on their personal style.

Jason: I have mostly own clients but gain new customers all the time.  I often will style whole families – three generations of chaps! Many teenagers choose a famous person {like Beckham, for example} and ask me to emulate it. Men frequently tell me they get more attention being smartly dressed with a vintage hair style than ever before.

BV: What is the appeal for vintage styling – and do you think it will always be popular?

Troy: Older clients of mine men often comment how all these styles are coming back around! Despite the fact vintage has had a recent surge in fashion trends I think it will be here to stay. It’s a niche area to work in, and I like it as it has a faster pace of work than ladies cuts.

Jason: I personally have been into all things vintage since aged of 11. The current times are reminiscent of the 1940’s when the barber industry was thriving; people didn’t have a lot of money and went to the barbers at good prices. Haircuts get shorter in recessions – as they are right now. There’s the social side of going a barber too, for many it’s a bit of nostalgia, they remember sitting in the old chairs in their childhood.

BV: Any must-have styling products for gents?

Troy: Dax Wax, Black and white, Sweet Georgia Brown, Brylcreem and Cock Grease. (Yes, really)

Jason: For forties style I use Sweet Georgia Brown and gel for shine and hold. For wet shaves my must-have product is Blue Beards Revenge. They are a great company to support as they are partners with the male cancer charity Orchid.

BV: Who are your personal style influences?

Troy: My own style is pure rockabilly, I tend to style myself on my icon, Jessie James.

Jason: I grew up influenced by the fifties, but now emanate styles as early as the Victorian era. My icons are Sebastian Horsley and George V1

BV: Any favourite moments since you started in this industry?

Troy: I was proud to cut Russell Mitchell’s hair – a famous bike builder from the United States

Jason:  My eccentric style of dress gets as much attention as my barber skills! I have participated in steam punk villain photo shoots and been featured in The Times newspaper.

BV: …and if you weren’t a vintage barber, what would you do? (Purely because we’re nosey)

Troy: I’d probably be a motorcycle and hot rod mechanic in America. That’s my other passion.

Jason: It would be too hard not to do this forever! I have been carving out a name for myself in the vintage men’s styling circuit and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

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Both barbers offer an appealing, retro ambience where you can relax with a coffee, a chat and walk out looking, and feeling, every bit more stylish than you went in. We get the impression a trip to see Jason or Troy is more than just a haircut or a shave, it’s a friendly social call. It’s a nod back to the quality of service of eras gone by and better yet, it’s very affordable.

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Troy’s Barbers is at 1152 Christchurch Road, Boscombe East, Bournemouth, BH7 6DY, and find him online at facebook.com/troys.barbers. Troy’s is open 5 days a week, and  often features at local rock n' roll night events too.

Jason is available six days a week at 18 Woodside Road, Southbourne On Sea, BH5 2AZ (01202 433903) and find him online at facebook.com/MrBarber.southbourne .

Jason will be working alongside The Vintage Hair Lounge at The Goodwood Retro Revival in September.

{Jason also whispered in our ear plans for a ‘festival of tweed’ celebrating all things vintage with fashion stalls and music in the local area. Sounds amazing! Don’t worry – we promise, as soon as we know…you’ll know!}

Images: Hannah Newman