Story Donated By Rachel McAlley
I was working on the Leeds Shopping Week 2008 project and one of the events I was hosting was a Swishing event, straight from the coolest New York and London second hand party scene.  The rules behind my Swishing event were as follows:
1 - all ladies could bring up to 5 accessories that they no longer wanted
2 - no fighting between swishers
3 - all ladies go home with gorgeous new accessories

I had around 20 ladies that come along to the Swishing party that was held at The Living Room in Leeds, each lady brought up to 5 items they no longer wanted (belts, bags, shoes, brooches, hats, gloves, jewels etc), all items were placed on a big table, and they were perused and tried on by the guests.  All accessories were placed back onto the table, all ladies were asked to leave the room and then the party started!

I blew a whistle and each lady ran into the room and grabbed an item that she wanted (one lady fell onto the floor in the madness of the rush) and then they left the room with their new accessory.  I blew my whistle 5 times until all the accessories were gone.

All proceeds (£5 entrance fee) were given to Yorkshire Breast Cancer Haven and any left over accessories were donated to the Charity for them to auction, raffle or giveaway.

The one and only accessory I had fallen in love with, and the one and only accessory that no-one wanted was the most amazing bright blue knitted woolen trilby hat.  And, as I was running the event I couldn’t take part until the very end.  But my wishes came true and it became mine.

Rachel McAlley

Story Donated By Hearts Content

I bought this cake stand last year from a charity shop in Leeds, I love the chintzy colour and its funny prim chrome handle. The lady I bought it from told me that she’d been given a similar cake stand as a wedding present and that, more than thirty years later, she still uses it today. It all sounded really romantic and I imagined her and her husband gazing into each others eyes over the cake stand, eating lemon drizzle cake and sipping cups of tea on their wedding anniversary.

When she cottoned onto what I was thinking (well, maybe not the detail about the lemon drizzle cake) she roared with laughter and told me that she’d divorced him a few years after tying the knot and that the only thing worth saving from her marriage was the cake stand. Apparently it was the best decision of her life, and now she gets to eat all the cake.
Happy Valentines Day!
Hearts Content

Story Donated By Frankie McGregor
@ St Gemmas Retro Fair

This hat came to me by chance. I run a vintage shop in Leeds, Lily De La Mers Vintage, but I had never really considered selling mens clothes until a guy called Joe came in with a suitcase full. The clothes were in such good condition and so interesting that I couldn’t resist! I’ve since learned that the hat is from around the 1920’s and would probably have been worn by a drayman delivering beer from a wagon. I’ve also been told that the hat is in mint condition and looks like its spent its whole life in a box. The label on the rim says it was made in Halifax (West Yorkshire).

I love the quality and style. Unlike most of my vintage things I feel it has virtually no history. Its almost like nipping into the 1920s for a brand new hat!
Frankie McGregor