Adam Stefan JonesCardiff may not be the fashion capital of the world but when it comes to individual style and expression, the city has been greatly underestimated. Over the years the Welsh people have embraced their individuality through merging the old and new to create their own distinct sort of style, using different resources like a vintage kaftan which is a great material to use in different clothing. Here we’ll be looking at three independent vintage boutiques that reflect every type of vintage hungry Welshman that resides in the capital.
Blue Honey
Recently opened this Autumn, the guys, Andy Richards, Joshua Dymond and Ben Field at Blue Honey in the High-Street Arcade, have some sweet, sweet things on offer for you. Ranging from 90s style flannel shirts to warm, wintery suede coats, be prepared to spend the remainder of your bank balance in here.
The title encapsulates the originality of the brand, as the inspired disco influence comes from past House music events the two owners have produced. Think of this place as your new sanctuary for finding the perfect outfit that’ll make you stand out in the crowd.
Be sure to know that each garment is hand-picked by their team, stretching out as far as Amsterdam in order to find you the most unique of pieces. The boutique’s simplistic decor allows you to shop at ease; avoiding the suffocating clutter of the majority of vintage boutiques.
You’ll hear the chilling disco vibes from their Rhythm Section upstairs, where you can find a mix of vinyl records to add to your ever growing collection. What’s great to see is that the owners’ passion for music has been fed into their love for fashion; creating new style ideas for vintage enthusiasts.
Hobos
Also found within the Victorian High-Street Arcade, Hobos will transport you back in time with their tasteful mix of 80s and 90s garments. 20 years on and the boutique is still going strong, catering for every season with their basketball vests, coats, denim jackets and tartan scarfs. Real individuality is brought to light with the boutique’s hippy meets parisian chic decor.
Keeping on trend with local students as their main audience, the boutique generously allows a 10% student discount. A large part of the boutique’s stock comes from the Mid-West back over in the States, the reason being for their large variety of college sweaters. Rest assured, Peter Walsh, with his uncanny Kings-of-Leon-esque style will be at hand to guide you through your search for that very important item.
Cardiff Fashion Quarter
Found just off Womanby Street, the Fashion emporium is home to a wide variety of vintage books, handmade crafts and, of course, those blinding tie dye t-shirts. The upstairs section to is currently undergoing renovation, which will soon see a brand new mix of street style garments, as well as Afro-Caribbean jewelry.
James Morgan-Rhys and Daisy Green at Rock-ola have an extensive range of wild and stylish woolen shirts, as well as luminous jackets to give your outfit that extra edge. Their inspiration comes from Daisy’s mum’s former fashion boutique, where the two fashionistas are bringing the same passion to our current generation.
The emporium also plays host to live acoustic sessions, as well as exclusive sets from Cardiff’s very own DJ residents from Boxcast. Here, vintage lovers have the opportunity to shop whilst listening to some of the city’s very creative music artists.
Catering For All
So whether you’re after a Fresh Prince of Bell Air ensemble or perhaps a classic chic outfit, the three different venues mentioned above will cater for all your vintage inspired ideas. Think about going that extra mile when piecing your winter wardrobe together this season by embracing the old and putting a stamp on your own individual appearance.