Vintage fashion catalogues giveaway

In advance of Kerry Taylor’s forthcoming vintage fashion auction, I visited the auctioneer’s new premises in London’s Bermondsey. Kerry was in the process of cataloguing and photographing hundreds of items for the sale on Tuesday 16^th October.

The auction includes everything from 1930s tea dresses and 1950s ballgowns to 1980s Mugler suits and antique Chinese robes. Two of the items - a 1970s tiered John Bates dress, and a 1960s Courreges jacket are pictured below.

Kerry kindly gave ShopCurious a couple of catalogues from previous sales – including one containing photographs of a collection of clothing belonging to Audrey Hepburn. 

These are being offered as a giveaway to one of our readers. Simply leave a comment below before 22^nd October in order to be included in the draw for the catalogues.

Will you?

Fathers' Day freebie

Happy Fathers’ Day! Did you know this is the 100th anniversary of Fathers’ Day? Sonora Louise Smart is credited with introducing the first ever Fathers’ Day in the USA in 1910 in memory of her widowed father, who single-handedly raised six children. On this auspicious occasion (hem, hem), I thought ShopCurious should offer a small giveaway aimed at our lovely gentlemen readers, or the special chap in your life.







The man who favours fashion over football will appreciate this slim volume, written in 1994 – and now updated in handy paperback form: The Englishman’s suit is Hardy Amies’ personal view of the suit’s ‘history, its place in the world today, its future and the accessories that support it.’




The book charts the evolution of the suit from the seventeenth century to the present day in narrative which ‘reveals a fascinating motley of curious and frequently amusing facts; from the arcane mysteries of button replacement to the remarkable influence of princes and kings.’

GQ describe the book as ‘part costume history, part social commentary, and part handbook for the uninitiated but aspiring.’ Enoch Powell writing for the Spectator said, ‘the nub of the philosophy of an entrepreneur who has helped to ensure that the Japanese word for man’s suit is sabiro, pronounced ‘Savile Row’. ‘

To take part in the giveaway, just comment on this post and you’ll be automatically entered into the draw, with the chance to win a free copy of this curiously entertaining and informative text. I hope you’re feeling lucky...

Are you?

Sporty Summer giveaway

I’ve been waiting for an opportune moment to mention the Reebok giveaway* at ShopCurious and, now that Summer (or at least a spot of sunshine) seems to have arrived, I think the time has come..

I was recently asked to participate in a trial of the new EasyTone shoes by Reebok – the ones that are supposed to give you a work out just by walking in them. When nature intervened, my plans for everything were interrupted by volcanic ash from Iceland, and I ended up testing out said shoes in the sunny Caribbean.



I usually shun mainstream brands, but the fitness market is somewhat limited in terms of the range of practical-yet-stylish clothing on offer. Moreover, my curiosity was aroused by the unique design of the EasyTone Curve Trainers– and claims that just stepping out in a pair of these specially engineered shoes could help tone up the legs. Hmmm..

Reebok rather generously sent me a complete outfit, along with the curious looking footwear. In terms of styling, the whole ensemble was a little more ‘pensioners playground’ (described by the Evening Standard as ‘definitely not the place to wear Lycra, ‘feel the burn’ or consume energy drinks) than dance studio cool. The bootleg exercise pants were curiously slimming, though the bottoms were a little strangely cut (to fit over shoes?);




The top was comfortable enough, but I couldn’t be doing with the weird little toggles that get caught up if you wave your hands about (as I do when aerobically challenged); The sleeveless ‘jerkin’ (a word that time forgot, but the only appropriate one I could find to describe it), was an oversized hip-hop style oddity; Even the shoes were curiously clunky looking - but hey, if they help to firm up those leg muscles, who’s to complain...

Anyway, I certainly put the trainers through their paces. I’d say they’re damned difficult to do a regular high impact exercise class in – and jogging is pretty hard going too (especially at 30C degrees). They feel peculiarly imbalanced to wear as well, but that’s why they’re supposed to be so effective:




The pads (or pods) on the bottom of the shoe are designed to cause instability, similar to the effect of walking along a beach. No surprise then, that a walk along a real beach in these shoes is like doing a triple strength work out. They make a great sand print too. The only problem is that sand gets stuck in the holes in the top of the shoe (guess they weren’t intended for beachwear).





Easytone trainers are perfect for walking though, better still speed-walking, as well as posing in front of Giorgio Armani’s stylish Caribbean villa. And they say that walking burns almost as many calories as jogging, plus it’s better for the joints too. So there you go... and the overall rating I give them is:

Style 6/10 (a matter of personal taste, of course)
Comfort 8/10
Fit 9/10
Performance 8/10 (it's the sand factor!)







Now for the giveaway. Just comment on this blog, and you’ll be entered into the prize draw for a natty black Reebok gym bag (left). Whether or not you’re inspired by the fashion for fitness, this is a decent sized (approx 60 cm across), sturdily made holdall.

*Simply add a comment to this post before the closing date of Friday 28th May to be included in the draw for a free Reebok gym bag.

Will you?


PS Congratulations to Jan from Race of Style, the winner of our Grace Kelly book giveaway.

Bottom drawer prize draw giveaway

Grace à ...

Okay, the times they are a changing - and today things ain't looking so good in the UK. I suggest you take a moment out to comment on this post - you may even win a copy of the 112 page hardback book, Grace Kelly Style.**

If you're going to be swayed by the media, why not escape into a fantasy world of free stuff that's fabulous, frivolous and fun? For the moment at least.

Grace Kelly was a fashion icon long before her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco, so it’s hardly surprising there was such a lot of interest in her wedding trousseau and bridal wear. By the way, the word ‘trousseau’ derives from an old French word for ‘bundle’, though it’s a term familiar to many cultures. Throughout the ages, the trousseau has traditionally comprised of the articles assembled in preparation for a wedding, honeymoon and the initial months as a newlywed – things like clothing, accessories, jewellery, beautifying lotions, potions, bed-linen and so on.

Previously stored in chests of drawers, sometimes known as ‘hope chests’, the Victorians even created an event called the ‘trousseau tea’, where they showed off the crate loads of china, linens and silks that had been collected for the wedding party. (No such preparation for any potential union of UK political parties, of course).



By 1956, when Kelly became Princess Grace of Monaco, trousseaux were generally much less extravagant. However, Grace Kelly’s wedding trousseau was certainly fit for a Princess, consisting of around forty day and evening outfits, including two Helen Rose-designed wedding gowns, and a dozen High Society film costumes, donated by MGM.




One doesn't often hear the ‘t’ word mentioned these days, (unless it stands for thong, perhaps), as pre-wedding shopping is more likely to mean sexy lingerie, stockings, suspenders and frilly garters. Nowadays, you can purchase these sorts of items online too: If you’re in search of unusual pieces for a wedding trousseau, ShopCurious has some curiously original accessories, though we prefer the more natural, old fashioned variety of wedding attire - and gifts with provenance, as well as purpose.




…And what about men? Isn’t the whole concept of the trousseau a tad sexist? I’d love to hear your thoughts, ideas for unique pre-wedding gifts and examples of things you’ve purchased, or stashed away in anticipation of your impending nuptials. I reckon there must be some huge bottom drawers out there, full of curious bits and bobs that have been hoarded up, but never used.

Do you?




** Win a copy of the book, pictured right.

Comment on this post within the next week or so, (with a link to your blog or profile so we can contact you if you win), to be entered into a prize draw for a copy of the book, Grace Kelly Style:

Published by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, to accompany the Grace Kelly Style Icon exhibition, this book, written by H Kristina Haughland, with an introduction by the curator, Jenny Lister is full of fabulous photographs of Grace Kelly as ‘The Actress’, ‘The Bride’ and ‘The Princess’.

(Closing date for entries Tuesday 18th May)