Beyond Retro
42 Vine Street,
Brighton,
BN1 1AG
01273 671937
Mon-Fri 10.00-19.00
Sat10.00-18.00
Sun10.00-17.00
Online at: http://www.beyondretro.com/
Beyond Retro, the warehouse-sized dressing up box on the edge of the North Laine, celebrates its first birthday this month, having opened up in Brighton “because we love the city and could see our customer being here,” Diana Kiernander from the chain explains.
So who exactly is the Beyond Retro customer?
“Of course there is a large amount of young people who shop at Beyond Retro because it is the age when people experiment and can be most creative with their dress styles generally”, Diana says. “But the appeal is broader than that and we sell to people from young teens to people in their 40s and 50s. A lot of older guys come in – maybe they were mods when they were younger or really into Northern Soul – and they find amazing stuff in our stores!”
While the Brighton branch may still be in its infancy, Beyond Retro has existed since 2002, when the first store opened in Cheshire Street, Bethnal Green.
Diana describes the concept behind the brand as “trailblazing”.
“It tapped into the creative spirit of the East London scene and lead the way. People did wear vintage back then, of course, and certainly art students etc were interested in that vibe, but there wasn’t a huge vintage culture like there is now and I think that is something we really encouraged.”
Vintage has garnered much more mainstream appeal over the last eight years, yet the sheer scale of the operation still sets Beyond Retro apart from the hundreds of other vintage stores that have since opened up around the country.
“When the Cheshire Street store opened, I don’t think that ever before had so many vintage clothes from so many eras been available on such a large scale,” Diana says. “Most vintage places, at that time and now, are about much smaller collections.”Beyond Retro have a dedicated product team who research and drive trends. The shop floor staff, many of whom, Diana says “don’t just have a passing interest in vintage but live and breath it”, are also involved in the look and feel of the stores.
“We kickstart trends and follow trends from the catwalk too. One season the 1940s might be a huge high street inspiration, and if people come to us with that in mind, they are likely to find a genuine 40s piece. I think the past will always inform and inspire what designers do.”
The trend- and season-led nature of Beyond Retro’s displays is demonstrated in a recent promo shot that shows a mannequin wearing an aviator jacket, one of the key pieces of the season as championed by Burberry, Acne and Chloe to name but a few.
So which other trends are Beyond Retro staff seeing an appetite for? “Playsuits and jumpsuits are big of course,” Diana says. “And we’re also seeing a lot of interest in the 70s disco looks.”
With twenty years commonly held as they period of time that has to have passed for styles characteristic of a decade to be considered ‘vintage’, the 1990s grunge look is also enjoying a revival, much to Diana’s delight: “I personally think grunge was amazing and the spirit and style of grunge deserved to be revisited often.”
As Wayne Hemingray demonstrated with this summer’s Vintage @ Goodwood festival, the staff at Beyond Retro understand that fashion, music and the arts are interconnected, and as such host regular live events in store. And they don’t have to look far for acts or inspiration. “A lot of people here are artists in their own right,” says Diana. “We have writers, filmmakers, illustrators, photographers, musicians and performance artists – it’s a really creative outfit!”
So, what’s on the bill for the coming months? “As the Brighton store is celebrating it’s first birthday, there will be some excitement and activity around that and of course there’s Halloween and Christmas coming up then, so, we’re going to be busy!”
Find out about upcoming events at Beyond Retro by visiting the website.
Words: Jo-ann Fortune
Accessed: http://vintagebrighton.com/2010/10/brightons-beyond-retro-celebrates-its-first-birthday/
Red Mutha
92 Trafalgar Street
Brighton
BN1 4ER
Tel.01273 603976
email. redmutha@btopenworld.com
Here at Red Mutha we create all manner of one-off, customised, recycled clothing and some brand spanking new stuff too.
We also do bespoke customisations for anyone who wants to be different and unique.
We currently sell our Sweatshirts, Tapechains, Caps and Bows from here.
More great products will be added daily from now on,so keep your eyes on the site!
There's our new "BOO!!" Sweatshirt! They're on sale NOW!!!!!!! in our Sweatshirt Shop.
We'll be selling loads of one-off customised garments and take online commissions too.
Here's some photos of what we can do........
We can customise a jacket personally to your specifications.Tell us what you want. Dare ya!
Don't forget our Flagship store is open 7 days a week. It's 2 minutes walk from Brighton Station.
Words: Red and Dan
Accessed: http://www.redmutha.com/
Pixxi
Brunswick SquareTel:
Brighton, East Sussex
BN3 1EH, United Kingdom
The Pixxi vision. Owner and make-up artist Jeni Dodson has hand-picked luxurious objects from around the globe, bringing together an eclectic and very personal collection of goodies designed to awaken the 'inner goddess' in every woman. Jeni’s inspiring choice of treats range from the saucy to the sophisticated, from the elegant to the erotic; inside a unique space in which women can relax and try on in total comfort and privacy. ‘I believe there is a better way to shop than buying 'off the peg' in a soulless high street shop, or rummaging through stuffy old vintage stores. Everyone deserves to browse in private and convivial luxury,’ says Jeni. ‘What I’ve created is the ultimate dressing-up box.’
What you will find. In addition to Pixxi’s trademark silk slips that work as dresses or lingerie, you will find mint condition vintage and new-vintage corsets, stockings, evening bags, corsages, venetian masks, burlesque and ‘pin-up’ accessories, dressing table gifts, and limited edition fashion and jewellery pieces. Some of the finest labels, including Heavenly Fischer, Vanity Fair, Van Raalte, Movie Star, Lorraine, Gossard Artemis, Adonna, Maidenform, Lovable and Barbizon.
Accessed at: http://www.pixxi.com/info/About+us.22.html
What you will find. In addition to Pixxi’s trademark silk slips that work as dresses or lingerie, you will find mint condition vintage and new-vintage corsets, stockings, evening bags, corsages, venetian masks, burlesque and ‘pin-up’ accessories, dressing table gifts, and limited edition fashion and jewellery pieces. Some of the finest labels, including Heavenly Fischer, Vanity Fair, Van Raalte, Movie Star, Lorraine, Gossard Artemis, Adonna, Maidenform, Lovable and Barbizon.
Accessed at: http://www.pixxi.com/info/About+us.22.html
