Lewes vintage - Revive-All & Hobo Vintage

Living in Brighton, it's easy to become blase about the vintage shopping opportunities with which we're blessed. Sometimes it takes some extra special finds or an out-of-town discovery to bring back the thrill, and the latter certainly delivered on that this week.

Despite visiting Lewes several times, I'd previously missed the antiques-come-second-hand-bookshop-come-vintage-clothing-shop Revive-All so was excited to stumble across a new hunting ground. Diving into the cluttered shop, I rummaged among vintage tins, 1940s tea dresses and unusual jewellery, while the husband leafed through 1960s Star Trek annuals.

I could have stayed there for hours, finding out the history of particular items from the friendly shop owner. But it was the locked shop at the back of the Needlemakers building that really got my heart racing. The owners of Hobo Vintage had packed up and left for the day, but said friendly shop keeper was only too happy to open it for us to have a browse: our own private vintage shop viewing - it was something of a dream come true.

As well as a covetable display of leather handbags, a huge selection of vintage dresses from the likes of Horrockses and Liberty and glamorous Sixties' coats, the shop also boasted a well-stocked men's vintage section - full of Barbour coats, tweed jackets and even an original pilot's jacket.

As much as I don't want anyone else to know about the secret treasure trove, this is one shop that deserves some local support - go prepared to spend!

Cath Kidston sale steal

A rummage amongst the 'nice price' items in Cath Kidston revealed a vintage-inspired basic today - this fun house and tree print shirt was just £20 reduced from £38. It reminds me of the postcard print shirts and scarves you can often find in the jumble at vintage shops, but this piece didn't have any damage or worn elbows and it fit like a dream in a size 10 (vanity sizing gets me every time)!

That is more than I can say for the post-box red United Colours of Benetton jumper I picked up at the My Swish clothes swap last weekend, but one small moth hole has been stitched up and no one will know that the other is there unless I tell them (oops).

It's pretty tiny, but has a good bit of stretch in it, and I was sold when a fellow swapper said it was "very Sixties". Some things are just meant to be because these two steals work perfectly together for a pleasingly geeky look.