Lifestyle in Salcombe
Devon’s Vintage Stars
From fashion and jewellery to teacups and floral arrangements,
six Devon women are running thriving businesses across the
county to meet all your vintage needs.
Words by Anna Turns. Photos by Sarah Lauren Photography.
Willow Hilson
Willow runs Relevant by Lady Lace, a
vintage clothing shop in Exeter, which
is a treasure trove of beautiful dresses
and garments. “I love seeing women
confident and happy in what they are
wearing” explains Willow. “I always
make sure my customers have a lovely
experience in the shop and leave with
a smile.”
Willow came from a fashion
background (she studied at St Martin’s
College in London) and previously
worked as an international burlesque
dancer. “I danced as Lady Lace hence
the name of the shop, and I do miss it
but I still get the glamour now from the
clothes in my shop” she says. “I have
always had a passion for vintage
clothing because it has a history and
the styles are so elegant. Vintage really
shows off how glamorous women
should dress.” Willow talks passionately
about the garments which make her
job full of surprises. When a new item
arrives in its original box, opening it can
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of fulfilment from finding a new home
for a special handmade outfit. “I’m
essentially sending things that have
been loved and worn before out in the
world to be loved again” says Willow.
“It’s so romantic.”
Contact Relevant by Lady Lace:
01392 425123
127 Fore Street, Exeter EX4 3JQ
@relevantretro
Willow’s Favourite Item:
I’ve got a 1950’s lace wedding dress
with a matching veil in the shop that I
found recently – it looks as if it has
never been worn, a perfect size ten, so
beautiful.
Willow’s Top Tip:
Ask! You could rummage for hours but
if you ask us we will be able to put an
outfit together for you. If people are
looking for something specific, they
often write it on Relevant’s facebook
wall and I add it to my shopping list so
it becomes a bit of a game. As soon
as I find an item it goes up on
facebook. So if you can’t find
something, we probably can! It is
special to have that interaction with our
customers.
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Lifestyle in Salcombe
Kye Tew
Kye Tew has been creating beautiful
jewellery for ten years alongside working
as an urban designer for an architects
firm in Exeter. Kye makes unique and
bespoke bracelets, necklaces, earrings
and head dresses. “A lot of the pieces I
make are 1920’s and 1930’s inspired in
particular” says Kye whose favourite
period is art deco.
“My head dresses are hugely popular
for weddings, I tailor make them for each
bride, and singer Bo Bruce wore one of
my head dresses for the final of BBC’s
The Voice and now wants my work to be
a regular part of her image” explains Kye.
“Creating a new piece is all about having
a vision – you see something and you
need to have a clear idea of what to do
with it, that is the key.”
Kye’s Favourite Item:
“I love the head dress I am wearing today
which I made from a belt clasp and
matched with freshwater coin pearls.”
Kye’s Top Tip:
“I scour antiques markets, car boot sales
and you can customise so much jewellery
– you just need to be creative!”
Contact Kye Tew Jewellery:
07738 449012
@kyetewjewellery kyetewjewellery.co.uk
Polly Sadler
Three years ago Polly Sadler moved
from Bristol to the Totnes area where
her husband Sheldon grew up and
South West Vintage China was born. “I
was keen to use the opportunity of
moving down to Devon to set up a
business but I had no idea what”
explains Polly. “I wanted the dream
wedding but on a budget so I started
collecting and my nan gave me a lot of
her china to use. That’s the first time I
saw the mismatched look and realised
it could have the wow factor.”
Inspired by her nan who would tell
108 stories about her glamorous sister who
sang during the war in London, vintage
china became a link back to this era,
and Polly has since collected enough
vintage china for 250 place settings. “I
look anywhere from charity shops,
auction houses in the back of beyond,
eBay, recycle centres – I’m always on
the lookout for bargains.” Polly has a
strict company ethos and only ever
collects authentic vintage china. “I
want to always stick to the principle
that everything is old and has a
history.”
Polly’s Favourite Item:
My absolute favourite pieces are the
vintage champagne saucers. For me
they really make a vintage themed
event and drinking from them
transports me back to a time of
sophisticated style.
Polly’s Top Tip:
“Different designs actually go really well
together on a table, it can be very
pretty, so mix and match patterns,
sizes and designs for a unique look.”
Contact South West Vintage China:
07855749504
@swvintagechina
[email protected]
southwestvintagechina.co.uk
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See page 54 to get the look and
create your own garden party.
Photo: Anna Turns
Lifestyle in Salcombe
facebook.com/relevantbyladylace
Hannah Jago
Caroline first dreamt of becoming a florist when she worked in Paris at the
age of 20. “Every day I walked past a beautiful florist shop on my way to work
at Paris airport – I knew I would be much happier working in the shop full of
flowers than in the office!” Since then, she has trained at McQueen’s School
in London, and set up her own company based in the South Hams.
“My take on vintage style is using traditional full beautiful flowers in
arrangements fixed with oasis” explains Caroline who uses one of Polly’s
cake stands as the base for her main table decoration. “This table setting
really sums up vintage to me: a tea party on the lawn with classic English
flower arrangements.”
Caroline’s Favourite Item:
“In my opinion, big blousy scented English garden roses would be essential in
any vintage arrangement.”
Caroline’s Top Tip:
“Any cut glass bowl makes a lovely centre piece: use bowls of different sizes,
shapes and heights to complement the mix and match feel of your vintage
china collection.”
and Carmen Croxall
The Very Vintage Hire Company was founded a year ago in
North Devon. “We try to buy second-hand from local sources to
keep our carbon footprint low” says founder Carmen Croxall.
From traditional ice-cream bicycles to a more retro popcorn
machine, Very Vintage supplies events with props from the
1920’s up to the 1990’s. “This gramophone we have here
today is great, you have to wind it up after playing each record!”
says Hannah Jago who recently moved to Braunton to work for
Very Vintage. “I love planning big themed events and everyone
is going crazy for vintage at the moment.”
Carmen’s Favourite Item:
“Our large electric gramophone which plays new LP’s.”
Hannah’s Favourite Item:
“I love the candy floss machine because it reminds me of going
to the seaside as a child.”
Photos: Sarah Lauren Photography
Caroline Hodges
Carmen and Hannah’s Top Tip:
“Upcycle and make odd objects into a lighting feature, whether
it is creating a lampshade or putting light behind something to
make a room more interesting.”
Contact Caroline Hodges Flowers:
07853 853055
[email protected]
carolinehodgesflowers.co.uk
facebook.com/vintagehire
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