Heartfelt Vintage in Bristol for Vintage clothes and wedding dresses
Posted on: 16 Jun 2015When I first walked in to Heartfelt Vintage in Bristol, it felt genuinely thrilling. It felt just like when I was a little girl and I would climb into my mother’s wardrobe and sit in amongst her dresses and coats that felt utterly, impossibly glamorous, but at the same time, feeling the tingling expectation that I might one day actually be allowed to wear them...
But this wardrobe doesn’t just span one fashionable woman’s lifetime, but actually goes as far back as the 1920’s! The result is a vintage shopper’s dream. Here, there’s no need to trawl through racks of 80’s polyester, or 90’s acrylic; every single item in Heartfelt Vintage is like that perfect item you dream of finding in a second hand shop.
In fact, Heartfelt Vintage has far more in common with a high end fashion boutique than it does with a second hand or ‘retro’ clothing shop. It is ‘vintage’ in the genuine sense of the word.
Owner Kate Ashwell's life-long obsession with clothes means that she takes immense pride in the fact that every item she sells is in the best possible condition. This means commissioning everything from exacting repairs to fragile lace, to thorough but gentle cleaning which means that there’s no ‘second hand’ smell here! Kate works with an incredibly talented seamstress to rescue and restore vintage dresses. Even dresses which are nearing their 100th birthday can comfortably be worn today with just a little extra care and attention.
Some women can be put off shopping for vintage clothes over worries about style or sizing, but as Kate explained, with true vintage dresses this is not a problem. Period clothes were made to a much higher standard than clothes now, and were often sewn and finished by hand. This means that they frequently have generous seam allowances that a skillful seamstress can make the dress a perfect fit, even if it is initially a little snug. Furthermore, straps can be added or removed, necklines can be altered, hemlines moved up or down; the possibilities are endless! And with such a wide range of periods covered, every woman will be able to find the era that best suits her.
Shopping with Kate is like having your best friend, a fashion designer and your own personal seamstress all rolled into one. She is an absolute genius to shop with, and she can help you work out what would best suit you, and what alterations could be done to make each item truly yours.
It’s a rare thing indeed to find someone who cares as much about their work as Kate does, and this incredible passion is part of the wonderful story of serendipity that led Kate and her husband Will into becoming the owners of Heartfelt Vintage.
When Kate and Will were planning their wedding, Kate had found her dress, but still needed a cape and head piece. She visited Heartfelt Vintage where not only did she find the perfect stole, but where the owner, Mandy, designed and made a bespoke head piece. Kate and Mandy got along famously, and got to talking that Mandy was thinking of selling the business. Despite being immersed in the whirl that is final wedding preparations, a seed of an idea had taken root with Kate; so much so that even on her actual wedding day, she found herself discussing the possibility of buying Heartfelt Vintage. Soon afterwards, a more level-headed, practical chat was had, and Will and Kate found themselves convinced that this was the perfect business for them.
The main customer base of Heartfelt Vintage is always going to be women, but fear not gentlemen and non-shoppers! This is not a shop you will ever dread going to. Even if exquisite vintage clothing is not a passion of yours, you’ll be overjoyed to discover that Kate and Will have also created a bright, sunny tea room serving delicious food. The use of the word ‘vintage’ is no accident in the tea room either. Kate says that the ideology behind the menu is, ‘Recipes your granny would recognise,’ so everything is made from scratch, without the use of preservatives or odd chemicals, even the clotted cream! The scones are baked in batches throughout the day, so you’re never far away from a fresh one. The menu at Heartfelt Vintage is simple and classic, from sandwiches (on homemade bread, obviously) to soups, cakes and afternoon tea.
When you’ve lived for a long time in a city that you love, it’s a rare and wonderful treat to discover somewhere new. I cannot wait to visit Heartfelt Vintage again to work my way through their menu, and to try on some wonderful dresses!
For more information contact Heartfelt Vintage on 0117 904 2898, visit www.heartfeltvintage.co.uk or email heartfeltvintageltd@gmail.com. You can also connect through their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
For some inspirational ideas click to check out The Heartfelt Vintage Bridal Shoot album with links and credits to some of the Heartfelt Vintage bridal partners.
Heartfelt Vintage is located at 32 Alma Vale Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2HY
Written by Sarah Millington for 365Bristol.