Well as you can see it has been a while since I blogged in here. Simple fact was I got locked out and couldn’t get back in until now, so I have had a little tweek - hope you love what I’ve done to the place. In the meantime I have been mega busy with the online shop and bricks n mortar shop in sunny Somerton, in ever delightful Somerset... and I have started drawing again tah dah. Oh my gosh, I swear the last time I held a pen for drawing must have literally been over 20 years ago, sooo thanks to some really cool painting and graphic apps for my ipad, with Procreate and Affinity. I have been putting my digital pen to ipad screen and been playing again. Check out my T shirt designs at MaterialisingMagic on Etsy. So the above two are my first products ready and launched, I am still working on this Minxy minx, I just have a few tweeks to make to the background. I haven’t decided whether to do her with or without the egg behind and whether to add text or not. Drop me a comment...

Christmas window thus far, it's steaming up already in here and blew this side lights in the same day as putting them up. So there's a bit of heath robinson on the light department - but besides the lighting malfunction we have delicious vintage gowns and treasures for you, to get you feeling all glitzy and glam. Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays - come and get yourself kitted out for the party season in one-of-a-kind vintage fashion. I have all sizes too, so don't say nothing will fit you, I bet it will.

  Ultimate red carpet backless velvet gown for utter glamazons, with huge diamonte dress clip embellishments and a fish tail train. Wow-wow-wow!

Ooh it's starting to look a bit cosy now with my Autumnal boho window. From left; Three piece blue needlecord and liberty chintz Anna Belinda in volup size. Boho chintz and burgundy velvet Marion Donaldson waiastcoat and gypsy skirt. Burgundy suede 3/4 skirt in volup size with a boho retro blouse and vintage 40s Chinese silk brocade reversible jacket in green and peachy pink. The leather tooled bag features mythical creatures and Romulus and Remus. Chap is wearing burgundy cord trousers with a Harris tweed houndstooth waistcoat, vintage burgundy paisley cravat and Harris tweed jacket with brown football buttons.

Fab little Punk girl. This was totally me somewhere around the early 80s, complete with orange hair, cateye make up, black mini skirt with chains and studded belt, fishnet tights and flat pixie boots. Like a little MiniMe. I found her in a tub with lots of other dolls, a sad little tub of someone's lifetime's collection so I took them all home with me. There were also some big eye Bradgate dolls which I'm sure I used to have a Japanese one when I was little, I remember her big black hair with centre parting and the huge cute eyes but mostly I'm sure she was wearing a fab red silk brocade Kimono, which I am still a massive fan of now. Lord knows how many I have all around the house, different colours for different moods. This little punk girl though, an original designed by Marian Kenny appears to be a bit of a collectable one, so result all round. Now I just have to decide whether she's going to live me or will she make it to the shop.... Hmmmm. Well maybe ...

Pic courtesy of Twinwood Festival 2017 wow-wow-wow! Massive congratulations to Dawn, on the right hand side, for blimmin' going and winning the Miss Vintage at the Twinwood Festival 2017 , doesn't she look stunning. And guess what - she is wearing an original 1930s crepe floral gown with matching bolero she bought from Top Notch Vintage too. That's gotta be the best outcome for one of our gowns this year.

  Thank you everone who voted for Top Notch Vintage for the best menswear category in the Muddy Somerset Awards 2017.  Thanks to you lovely lot we made the finals, down to 5 final nominations out with so many people voting it broke their website. But I am proud we even got nominated as the shop has only been in the new location since January and to get the silver award is just fabulous, I am thrilled. So hope to see some more lovely chaps shopping for original true vintage clothing and accessories in Somerset. Find us on Broad Street, Somerton. We also sell true vintage and high end vintage designer labels for women and children too.

Best Men’s Store - Please vote for Top Notch Vintage Somerton We’re in the finals of the Somerset Muddy Awards for best Men’s Store and it’s all thanks to you! Please take a minute to vote for us in the finals by clicking the Muddy Awards logo Thank you so much for your support. Voting starts from zero. Nominations from the first round are not carried forward, as it is now a 5-way competition between 5 Finalists. Voting seen live on the site in real time, so when you vote for me, you can see the percentages move live.  THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO VOTED

This amazing beauty wasn't in the shop long before it was snapped up by an actress to wear on her opening night. It's a 1930s aubergine/plum colour crepe jacket with glorious hand embroidery and little red early plastic buttons. Just incredibly beautiful. Along with it, came this beautiful delicate 1930s sheer silk crepe Hungarian peasant blouse with smocked waist and the biggest embroidered front panel I have ever seen on one of these tops. It's a rockabilly or boho girl's dream blouse and will make anyone look and feel so pretty. Such a work of art and is still available in the shop or online .

I've had some beautiful and interesting things come into the shop recently.  This is an original 30s Bavarian Dirndle dress with matching apron. The work in it is amazing, all the pleating, gathering, tucking etc all hand done on the prettiest of floral printed fabric.  Fastens with hooks and eyes and has a removable white lace bodice piece that fits on with poppers.  The colours are beautiful with a pale dusky blue and pale coral pink decorated with a white eidelweiss floral pattern. Some of the gathering in the sleeve.

  Since binge-watching the TV show Vinyl I'm all out hooked on the 70s again, Studio 54 the works. So I've been prancing about in vintage jump suits, mega flares and my monster platform heels and floppy hats. Love it - now all we need is more sunshine for that Summer of Love reinvention. In the meantime.... I got a stash of men's 70s shirts to add to the shop this week, once I've washed and pressed them. Here's a lillte taster of a few of them that came through the light colours wash. Darks are next. Above is a 70s H Bar C longtail California Ranchwear, blue embroidered Western shirt with pearl snap buttons to fit 38" chest.   Above is a 70s Kennington Western shirt with patchwork quilted yolk, you couldn't get more 70s I don't think.   Above is a 70s Kennington Western shirt with embroidered flowers and braided trim.   Above is a polyester disco shirt featuring a fly fishing scene - I can just imagine the dance moves to go wit...

I'm reverting back to being open Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. I tried Wednesdays but it was just too lonely so am in the studion photographing stuff for the online listings instead. You can always contact me if your need is urgent though. Enjoy the pix of lovely Deco bakelite trinket boxes to cheer you up in the meantime.

  It's all grim and grey outside so let me cheer things up with some wonderful Spring colours, cheery yellow and fresh green florals.      A fabulous vintage 1960s cotton umbrella parasol to brighten up your day as well as outfit. Take it with you for a Spring walk or picnic in the park to guard agains showers or bright sunshine. It would be fabulous for a festival too, where the weather is changeable or taken to the beach for stylish shade. Available here from Etsy        Gorgeous Midcentury housecoat, dressing gown by the lingerie and loungewear brand Sidroy. Late 50s early 60s and just divine for wafting around the house looking all pretty and charming - what's not to love about this. It's got a lovely large curved collar lapel, tied with a yellow ribbon (not the original), a pretty little fron pocket. It's got yellow satin edging and oh that print! If you are a fan of Midcentury fabrics, you wi...

  Have been fiddling with Victorian mourning jewellery all made from antique Whiby jet and French jet. I have been repairing and re-stringin necklaces, here's a few pieces from the selection. The long necklace is a 1920s Flapper necklace with hollow jet beads.   Gorgeous Whitby jet link chain necklace.   Another Whiby jet link chain mourining necklace, I am a couple of the rounded links short, so this one still has string holding the links together in a coule of places. Along with a pretty shell cameo mounted onto a jet pendant base.   A massive jet button or it might also have been worn as a mourning bead fob decoration to hang on a watch chain, also pictured is a three-way spacer with hand carved solomon seal flower decoration. Just beautiful, I love jet it is so glam-gothic and it is ever currrent.

  Decided to style up the dummy with a steampunk theme, she's wearing a vintage lace blouse, steampunk riding bustle skirt and matching bolero with elasticaded waist and brass buckle. a faux fur duster coat, vintage wide brim hat with velvet trim, a vintage riding crop and riding boots.

Well I've only been open a couple of weeks and people are bringing boxes of vintage treasures through my door, so far there's been this fabulous bespoke made vintage 1950s 3 piece tweed suit in a brown windowpane check with a hint of yellow  and copper lining. It's in a good size too at 44-46" chest and 32" inside leg, the trouser waist is 40" and along with the jacket have been let out at some point in their history. The suit is dated 1954.      The same people brought in a stash of 1950s and 60s cocktail dresses and evening gowns, below is a fabulous lime green silk number. Another silk and such a classic style this is a timeless full length evening gown. In the most beautiful copper silk with gold and ivory bands running horizontally, I love it.   Below is a wild and colourful Peter Barron 1960s dress, made from Tricel fabric which is usually used for silky cravats. This dress is lightweight and slinky with the most intense ora...