REVIVAL ACCRINGTON

Revival was established 25 years ago. The shop has pride of place in Warner Street Accrington - one of the oldest Victorian streets in the town. Warner Street is a gem of a street with independent shops and free parking. The owner Ian Smith has a love of period clothing and spent long days sourcing vintage stock. The love of vintage started for Ian in the early 1970s scouring jumble sales and markets to find clothes to wear. He soon found he had an eye for men’s and ladies vintage clothing and started buying. He worked in Bath in a vintage clothes shop, and then moved to London opening a stall selling period clothing on Antiquarius on the Kings Road. Before moving to Accrington Ian traded in York for 7 years.

 

Clothing stocked at Revival ranges from rare Victorian pieces and unique one of a kind vintage attire from the decades, ranging from the 1940’s to 1970’s. Well-known and well-loved brand names such as Biba and Frank Usher can still be found but are now becoming rare. The sole trade of the business is the shopping experience. We do not sell online, as we feel that vintage clothing needs to be tried on and tested for the love of it and how it makes you feel. We have unique pieces – no two items are the same and you wont find any one in the same outfit, which is always a bonus. As well as clothing we also stock a treasure trove of accessories from powder compacts, hair scarves, brooches, and shoes. Clothing is lovingly steamed and pressed and any repairs completed with care.

 

In the 1940s women everywhere embraced a chic utilitarian look, and Hollywood's Golden Age stars - from Rita Hayworth to Katharine Hepburn - dazzled in gorgeous gowns. We have 40’s cotton tea dresses, stockings, fine wool suits, crepe blouses and leather handbags.

Dresses from the 1950s are easily spotted. The hemline stops around the knee, they look best over a stiff petticoat, and they were fun to twirl in! We have original petticoats, full circle skirts, dresses, cashmere and woolen knits. You could accessories with the popular rockabilly style with a headscarf and clip on earrings and kohl-lined eyes.

 

Dresses in the 1960s came in all shapes, colors and fabrics. Skirts varied in length, from ankle to super-short.

The mod look was also popular, required mini skirts and pale colored fishnets, cutout low-heeled shoes, mannish jackets, and ties. Accessories included over-the-shoulder handbags and jewelry, ranging from antique pins, to modern styled geometric earrings. We have A-line dresses, colourful prints and separates available.

Young men also went Mod wearing low slung, wide belted, skinny, fitted pants, to which they added extra-wide, flashy printed ties that contrasted with the wallpaper floral prints of their shirts. Men and women alike were wearing very tight fitting pants and platform shoes.

 

 

Early 1970s fashion was a fun era. It culminated some of the best elements of the 60s and refined and/or exaggerated them. Some of the best clothing produced in the 1970s perfectly blended the mods with the hippies. Ankle length skirt, billowing blouses, love beads and plaits in your hair would conjure up the hippy look.

Mens fashion is popular and the stock ranges from, tailored suits, from, Harris Tweed jackets and blazers.  Crombie coats with labels such as Daz and Burtons … tootle scarves, biker jackets, leathers and suede. We have plenty of Cravats, ties, braces and hats to tie your look together. Hats in abundance such as trilby’s, caps and bowlers. Shoes such as Brogues, Oxfords, loafers from Grenson, Trickers and Loake to name but a few. There is also a variety of men’s modern designer labels such as Lacoste, Fred Perry, Armani and Paul Smith. The stock is really competitive compared to other vintage establishments and if you can’t quite find what you are looking for Ian will do the searching for you.

 

 

Famous faces have entered the shop and made purchases, such as Julie Hesmondalgh and Wayne Hemingway has been amongst the customers. We have also catered for the 2015 Northern Soul Film. We have also supplied to theatre companies and musical productions.

The great customers and characters that shop in Revival are mainly long standing loyal customers who on the whole have become friends and can often be seen hanging out having a brew and adding to their vintage wardrobes or trying a different style. It is always great to meet new customers and hope you pay a return visit.