Vintage Rocks! Show at The Boogaloo

Go bold or go home. This is the motto of London-based vintage clothing brand Rock Candy, who recently put together a night of shopping, fun and old-fashion glamour at The Boogaloo.

The company – who recently moved out of its Holloway Road boutique to dedicate the shop exclusively to online sales – tagged the idea behind the event as ‘a unique, fun evening that combines both fashion and music and celebrates how they are so intertwined.’

‘There are lots of vintage fairs and events in the capital,’ said owner and director Emma Murphy. ‘However, I wanted to put on something that was less about the hard sell and more about enjoying a great night out, while at the same time promoting some excellent brands to a new audience.’

Matching that very laid-back spirit, the evening combined a just-off-the-catwalk buying spot, followed by drinks and a spin on the decks from bluesy trio Harriet Starling & the Good Honeyslater. The improvised catwalk was definitely compensated for by the charming atmosphere  of the vintage market which served up dresses, accessories, coats, shoes and jewellery under the same roof.

As soon as the show started, it was clear that the talent of Rock Candy lay in mixing different designs with different eras. On stage we spotted designs from the late ’30s to the late ’90s, including a late ’30s floral gown walking down as a mean ’50s ‘Betty Draper’ sundress.

‘Personally, I think the popularity of retro events comes down to the way they are so stylised, with each era having a prominent identity, from ’50s rock ‘n’ roll to ’70s disco’, Emma told us.

Polka dot playsuits, silk jackets worn as coats, hats that are scarves, and other final-touch elements helped to keep up the magic on the improvised runway. But there were two especially eye-catching pieces: a bright orange silk playsuit that seemed fresh from a ’70s LA pool party and a wonderful light blue two-piece design screaming ‘Swinging London’ in all its retro splendour.

Not to worry if you missed the event; just visit the company’s website and get a piece of the old-school flavour before it all flies away!

Vintage Rocks! took place at:

The Boogaloo
312 Archway Rd
Highgate
N6 5AT

Tel: 020 8340 2928