Lou Lou's - Brighton Vintage Fair

So, I like a good rummage and I do love Vintage items. Normally I go to the Vintage Jumble sale up at Loxwood, West Sussex but it's only twice a year so I decided to check out a couple of other local fairs. Lou Lou's vintage fair is the winner of the best Vintage fair in the UK (who knew!?) and they travel around the country. They set up shop for the day in the Corn Exchange at Brighton Dome and charge £2 on the door, very reasonable considering the venue. 

In theory, according to the flyers, they should have a mix of homewares, fashion and a retro beauty salon with a pop up tea room thrown in for good measure. Personally I think the cakes are there for people like me who fall in love with a 20's flapper dress that could just about fit one of my thighs... whaaaaaa, oooooh cake! But anyway, I managed to avoid the cake on this occasion, I got there right as the doors opened - I know what Vintage shopping in Brighton can be like - and I was ready to rummage. I love that you can haggle at these events too but a word of warning, know your products. You still need to be reasonable. And you can't think you'll pay less elsewhere, this is Vintage so you might be right but you might also never see your favourite item ever again. I didn't take any of my own photo's inside, some of the sellers can be a bit funny about cameras but this is from their Facebook page and it's pretty close to the kind of thing you can expect:

Brighton Dome Corn Exchange

So as you can see, it's pretty tight and it get's very busy, very quickly! My advice, flat shoes, light layers and the smallest handbag you own with a couple of carrier bags folded up inside for all the goodies!

After a good old rummage I came away with a few little treasures. The beautiful scarf in the background of my picture is HUGE. A lovely old fashioned silk scarf, doesn't have a mark of it AND doesn't smell like moths haha. The very best bit? It cost me 50p. The lady was having a big stock clear out, I got the pocket watch (working) from her for £1 and the little box for another £1. I have to say, the little trinket box is probably on of my favourite things I've ever found at a vintage market.

My Treasure!

The parasol/umbrella brooch was a piece of haggling. I saw it in a beautifully presented box of brooches, very neatly organised in their own compartments of a velvet tray. the reason I'm explaining that is because you see SO many brooches at Vintage fairs - and they're very collectable. but they're often all just thrown in together and they get damaged. This one was sparkling, all it's rhinestones in tact with the original clasp. I know a little about jewellery and I recognised the style as being the 1928 Jewellery Company. They make beautiful jewellery by reproducing the classic styles pre 1940's. The price label said £18, I got it for £10. I looked it up online and it was produced in the late 60's and if I wanted to buy it online it would cost me around £30 including postage so I'm pretty happy!

My Beautiful £1 Trinket Box

The 1928 Jewellery Company Brooch

A few photos to show just how beautiful these items are! I love wearing my brooch, I get so many compliments on it and I love knowing that I'll probably never meet anyone else who has the same! As for my little box, well, it's a real treasure. I haven't worn my scarf yet but it's going to be perfect for me in the summer, the colour is beautiful. As for the pocket watch, it works, it looks beautiful, it's not particularly old but I love it all the same. 

All in all it was a worthwhile trip because I found treasures! However, it was mainly clothing which I don't normally go for, there were no homeware stalls/items at all. I think I'll be sticking to my usual Vintage Fairs in future. If you want to check out any of there other fairs then you can find them on Facebook here: Lou Lou's Vintage Brighton

Do you love Vintage?