Retro tees ... because we can

The lovely ladies at The Dollhouse Clothing ordered some of our upcycled retro tees which they used in their latest shoot. Really chuffed, humbled and excited - who knew? who friggin knew?

If you would like a tee please drop us an email at oldstreetline@gmail.com or check us out on Facebook.com/oldstreetretro

And then there was ....

a shop!

It's been so long since I posted anything. There's a shop now and long hours I tell ya! It's def harder working for oneself but the benefits out way anything else. A few weeks ago we were selling from home and now we have a lil place of our own. We didn't plan on having a shop but life just happened (as it does).

We've done everything in the shop on a non-existent budget and making your own clothing rails with wire and wood ... let's just say it worked and that's all that matters. We will be selling coffee too and having a chill out section where you can listen to some old records and read some books.

Here are a few pics - if you're in the area pop in and say - opp Red Cross hospital, Rondebosch, 75 Klipfontein Road. We are always have specials on in store.

Thanks for the support from friends, family and customers - it's been humbling.

Kick it old skool and give these hairstyles a try

Project launch: New Street

We're all about being conscious - whether through the clothing we buy or helping others. The launch of New Street is a huge milestone for us because it couples our love for clothing with an even bigger passion - providing a hand up instead of a hand out and hopefully this will provide a sustainable income to people out there who are struggling.

Karen lost her job. Her husband has lost his job. With three children to feed including a baby, life is tough. They lost their little home and have moved into the 'bush' as she calls it and have set up a little shack. She will be selling in her area (Atlantis) and hopefully, she'll be on her way to get herself and her family back into a home.

Concept
It's pretty simple - we supply women with clothing to sell and their first load of stock is funded by our vintage and retro range, Old Street.

We have managed to team up with a supplier for clothing that is brand new, slightly rejected and comes from shops within South Africa as well as the UK.

They get stock to the value of R250 which they call sell in their areas. They are priced super cheap - R20, R40 and R50. Way cheaper than Pep Stores and any other shops touting bargains in their windows.

Their second purchase of stock will be subsidized by us as well - so the sustainability begins to grow.

It is our hope that women will be able to provide the basics for their families and also have enough money to start their little own clothing business.

We'll keep you posted on how Karen has been doing and if anyone would like to contribute the purchasing of stock, please email us at oldstreetline@gmail.com

Twitterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

You can now follow us @OldStreetretro. We've got something special planned for our Twitter followers ... so join in the fun!

Going retro ... goodies to get you going

Colour block with this amazing 80s retro blouse - size 32 R60

Marilyn Monroe mounted wall picture. Size 1m x 60cm - R200

Retro navy and tan genuine leather satchel - R195

All available on Bid or Buy

You can now purchase from Bid or Buy

We've been uploading a few items and testing out Bid or Buy so you can now head on over and have a look ... click and buy :-)

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/seller/2185214/Old_Street

Vintage market time ...

So after the rain forced the organisers of the vintage night market to move it to this week, let's hope the rain stays away! The night market will go ahead at the Labia on Orange street in Cape Town from 5pm to 10pm this Friday.

We'll have:

• Old Street statement retro tees
• Bags and shoes
• Summer tops and blouses
• Fab high-waist pants
• Dresses
• Free hugs :-)

See you there!

The style of Blondie

Debbie Harry aka Blondie managed to marry a little bit of punk with a little of bit of this and that. She was the epitome of all things cool in the 70s and early 80s. I love her style because she can take a t-shirt that some of us are about to chuck out and make it look good ... very good. 

I love how she mixes casual and glam - I love when people take a deadbeat casual outfit and then add some killer heals and accessories to turn it into something you paint the town red in. Or taking an uber glam outfit and then dressing it down - I find the contrast so appealing. You give off that allure that you are night trying to hard. 

Her platinum blonde hair and attitude made her an instant star. When everyone was into the hippie thing she went punk - a true testament to never going with trends and just being yourself.

So for today, crank up Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' 

Exclusive Old Street statement t-shirts - it just got real y'all!

Happy November! I can't believe 2011 is almost done and dusted! This is our first batch of Old Street statement t-shirts. We customise to give them a retro feel - snip snip. If you would like to order email oldstreetline@gmail.com. All ladies tees - R35 and men's are R50.

Make a statement - go on ... say it!

We at Old Street feel that life is way too short not to make a statement with what you are wearing. This is the first of our range of retro statement tees - retro clothing with conscious twist.

The 'lives' series will be sold for R35 and R50. Send an email to oldstreetline@gmail.com to order.

• Lennon lives
• Marley lives
• Pac lives
• Biko lives
• Ghandi lives

Vintage and retro market

We'll be at the You & Me and Everyone We Know night market at the Labia on Orange Street - Friday, 28 October. If you fancy all things vintage and retro, it's the place to be.

Some bits we'll have at the market ....

A man we heart oh so much

There's nothing more attractive when a man wears clothing that fits him well. It helps even more if the clothing is not too mainstream. And of course it helps if he can sing .... enter Plan B, an amazing artist hailing from London's east end of course!

He is first and foremost a rapper but last year he dropped a mammoth album - The Defamation of Strickland Banks - a soul record, which is about all you need to know. The album is absolutely amazing - he's like a male version of Amy Winehouse.

His dress sense is always a suit and oh, do they fit ever so well! Now if only more men cold have his swag!

Check out this video of him performing live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIzLHliIHO8

On trend (not) ... don't be a clone innit!

When it comes to fashion, which is at its core an art form, we should try and use it as a means of expression. This is at the heart of why I sell retro and vintage clothes. It’s two-fold really – to provide people with an alternative option to paying R500 for something in a shop, where it will be donned by a few thousand other people. Secondly, I sell the clothes because it gives all of us more of a chance to experiment with our individuality and really put our stamp on things. No one else will be wearing it and you can shout out loud and proud that you love who you are.

Vintage and retro is not a fad – it’s not a trend. People who wear vintage respect the clothes – it has had a life before and hails from a time when mass consumerism was not the order of the day, therefore the quality is better.  There is a story in each item of clothing or handbag – there is a story that we should all respect and golly gosh, there are a few things that I will not part with – pass down yes but part – never! 

More now than ever do we need to be individuals because everything and everyone these days appear to be carbon copies of the next person. I don’t personally follow trends, if there’s something I like, I wear it – I’ll rock Dr Martens when its ‘out’ and I’ll rock a pair of dungarees with purple heels just because.  Most importantly I just cannot justify paying exuberant prices for clothing when people are suffering – that’s just my thing. 

I need to thank my dear mom; above all else, she is a classy lady with impeccable taste in clothing. I fought with her – she wanted to make me into a girly girl and I wanted to be a tomboy and today, I can rock an amazing frock with amazing sneakers and that is who I am! People who know me, know I have an addiction to sneakers - I even have a pair with my nickname in graffiti on the back and of course a lil gangsta girl holding a tennis racket (I played) on the side. It's amaaaazing ... to me at least, and that's all that should matter, ever. 

Where I draw my inspiration for my style:

Hip hop

1950s

1980s

Florence Welch

Grunge

Pick of the week

A lil something to show how you can rock this amazing emerald green satin blouse. Heart it! Send email to oldstreetline@gmail.com to order or check us out on Facebook. 

New stock - I went green crazy!

Somehow this week my eye just went for green. It's a great colour for this season and the items work well to dress and down. Drop us an email at oldstreetline@gmail.com or check us out on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003019185096

Emerald green 80s parachute material blouse. Amazing shoulder-poofness! Pair up with pleather tights and some nice chunky shoe boots. Size 32. R65.

This is my pick of the week! Satin emerald green shortsleeve blouse. Great detail on the back. Perfect to tuck into a pencil skirt or high-waisted wide-leg pants. Size 32. R60

Lovely bottle green clutch. R50

Button up striped dress (Zara). Size30/32 R60.

Great summer blouse - colours look even better in the flesh. Great for bell bottoms, denim shorts.
Size 32/34. R60

I adore this dress. Navy and white print with great ruffle detail on the front. Just needs a perfect
 belt and some heels! Size 36. R80