student fashion blog

Classic scenario; you are on a night out. You have on your one-of-a-kind dress, your clutch bag and perhaps you have had your makeup and hair professionally done (or in my case moaning to your best friend to curl your hair instead because you’re skint as a fart and incapable of doing it yourself without looking like Raggedy Anne.) You feel great because you haven’t scrubbed up this well in months. (No offense darlings but what with the recession and all…and the student loan dwindling down in your bank statements week by precious week.)

You are dancing like there’s nobody watching and skilfully mastering the LMFAO shuffling dance. So far, so good. But when your “booze seal” as it were is officially broken and you emerge from a cubicle in the toilet in a drunken haze, you are suddenly stopped dead in your skyscraper high heel tracks. Another. Girl. Has. My. Dress. On.

Irrationally you are overcome with anger. A natural instinctive response could be: How dare she be wearing my dress! MY DRESS! I know it was a dress in a big shop with national chain but let’s be honest, I saw it first and because I’ve bought it nobody else should be allowed to wear it without my permission. Argh she like well stalked me whilst I was going shopping, the weirdo. I have experienced that excruciatingly figurative pain many a time.

But we must stop this neurotic, unhealthy, childish response. As much as you are a valued Topshop customer, they certainly did not design that lovely high street dress just for you.  Of course the wound is much rawer and the scab is more ‘pickable’ when it comes to a party season outfit because so much thought has gotten in to it. This is your time to step into the fairy lights limelight and prove your work colleagues/friends/family that your outfits may not have been gold, frankincense and mare consistently throughout the year BUT in Autumn/Winter…frankly Jesus your birthday is going to get overshadowed. I determine that MY outfit will shine far brighter and sexier that the star that the Three Wise Men followed to Bethlehem.

Raiders Vintage

I’m afraid to say that our beloved High Street is perhaps not the best way to go for originality. The probability that someone will have your dress on a night out is more likely than Cher Lloyd bringing yet another appalling single out in the charts. So the solution to ensure your party dress is individual? Fall in lust with an old flame: Vintage!

If you’re lucky enough to live in the Baltic city that is Liverpool, forget L1 and let your own party Achilles heel be Raiders Vintage on Renshaw Street. Whether you’re a 50’s pin up model or 70’s disco diva, their varied spectrum of vintage clothing certainly caters for everyone. Their new party range includes sassy sequins, blacks, navies, the glitziest of gold clutch bags and array of maxi dresses to certainly ensure you will become all hot under the collar…or should I say mistletoe? And the best thing is unless your Auntie Peggy is still alive from 1966 and decides to come on your night out with you with a glass of cherry in hand, nobody else will have it! And with most dresses being around £30 mark, there is absolutely no excuse for you to have the same dress as another materialistic robot.

Here are my own personal highlights from Vintage Raiders in their LIMITED Party Wear Collection:

Gold Lurex Midi/Maxi Size 8 £35

If I only had the tallness and grace to pull this sexy piece off! The dress oozes glamour and sophistication. Therefore from a creative point of view, accessories should perhaps be kept to a minimum. Leave the neck exposed for a cheeky little peek of a collarbone and perhaps team with vintage drop golden earrings which positively shouts to the rooftops ‘I LOVE THE 60′S.’

Navy Blue and Black Floral Shift Dress with Diamante Neckline Size 10/12 £35

In all fairness I do not even know why I am advertising this because frankly after writing this I may very well run down Renshaw Street like a hysterical woman drooling and carrying a pitchfork to fight off fenders to get this for myself. I’m a sucker for navy, it just connotes majestic regal elegance. The bag as well is bodes beautifully with the colours. If anybody else has this outfit before me it will be a tragedy, it seems like fate as well because they have it in my size. Might kill myself like Juliet if it is no longer there so rest assured I will keep you posted.

Black Velvet Strappy Dress With Plunging Neckline Size 10/12 £35

Usually I’m not one for slinky straps and have the flesh on so much show but when you look at this picture you step back, rationalise and think: WHO THE HELL CARES? The length of the dress isn’t too revealing therefore there is a good equilibrium in the outfit between a latent sex appeal and respecting your classy inhibitions. Either wear with a necklace or with drop down earrings. Every party season needs a favourite LBD and with this ones versatility and it being VELVET, I think my folly soul searching for a statement, ‘never go out of fashion regardless of other uglier trends that come out ‘ piece searching is over.

On the downside (yeah I know, you knew there was going to be a catch) remember fundamentally at heart these dresses is VINTAGE. There are only one of them so if you see one that makes you feel like your heart is in your mouth or makes you fall head over heels over the curb then don’t do the old chestnut of “Oh I’ll get it tomorrow, next week, when I get paid.” GET IT NOW. Otherwise it will be gone. And then you eventually find an alternative outfit, you will be sitting there holding your drink akin to a sad alcoholic pondering what could have been.

For more outfit previews and to contact Vintage Raiders to bag yourself a retro treat visit their official Facebook page HERE.

Written by Gemma E Jones

LJMU English Student, Opinions Editor of The Looprevil Press and Assistant Editor of the American Studies Today. 

Twitter: GemmaSatire | Blog: GemmaSatire