Vintage clothing and accessories can be found in charity shops, on market stalls and in second hand emporiums.

Specialist vintage fashion shops all have particular interests, aimed at different groups of buyers. Some stores focus on true vintage, bought from collectors, and usually with original designer labels, others mix one-off finds with reproduction designer items.

Brighton has a wide range of vintage shopping possibilities, and the North Laines has a good variety of specialist shops, catering for all price points.

Vintage styles are clothes made from 1920s through to the 1990s. Past eras inspire fashion designers to re-invent styles. Nostalgia for events and moods often make us pine for clothes that reflect those times.

What we’ll do

Meeting in Brighton’s North Laines, guests will have coffee/tea and cake while Susan gives a short talk about vintage fashion.

There will be a brief discussion about what is considered as the current vintage trends, and why certain garments have survived to become vintage.

Especially unique are vintage shops catering for all types of tastes from workwear, evening wear, wedding dresses, coats & jackets as well as all types of denim.

Guests will experience 6 shops who have agreed to take part in the tour. Susan and members of staff will be on hand to give specialist advice. Other shops of interest will be pointed out on the tour so that guests can visit them at a later date.

Groups of 2 to 6 would be the ideal number, although the tour will try to accommodate up to 8 people. If it’s raining bring an umbrella – only five minutes walk to the shops.

Tour members said

Fantastic tour, really interesting and good fun.

What a fun day we had! Highly recommended.

Susan gave us the local’s tour of the North Laine vintage scene. Her knowledge of fashion through the eras and her relationships with local businesses meant that we got a real insight into the products on display and the stories behind the stores we visited.

About your host

I love to hunt for treasure, that individual piece just right for an occasion. The adrenaline rush of finding that one special piece at the bottom of a pile of clothing is addictive. I collect vintage jewellery, Bakelite bangles and necklaces from the 1930s and 40s.

Whatever you are looking for choose carefully – give new life to something that comes from the past.

Susan Bishop is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion and has an MA in Fashion Curation plus an MA in History of Design and Material Culture.

When, how much and how to book?

• Tours usually last 2.5 hours starting at 2pm Wednesday to Friday. Cost is £25 including tea and cake.
• To book a tour please visit the Airbnb page
• Alternatively please call Susan directly on 07802 841903 or email sj.bishop@sky.com to arrange a date
• You can also follow Susan on Instagram