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!

Merci beacoup

I need a new suitcase for my Canadian honeymoon and if this one wasn't so mini, it'd be perfect. Old-school, pretty, and in full working order, unlike the many I spot in vintage shops and flea markets and have to talk myself out of buying - no one wants their dirty holiday washing bursting out onto the airport concorse.

The case is part of a collaboration between Parisian concept store Merci and Liberty London, which is renowned for its prints, and at £45 it's more afforable than many pieces in the collection. But, unless I shrink to doll-size between now and September, sadly there exists no justification for such a pretty vanity case.