2012 is shaping up as a fantastic year of events for Anita's Vintage Fashion Fairs, which include some new and exciting collaborations. Be sure to 'Save the Dates' and we hope to see you there:

AVFF Pop-up Vintage Fair

Saturday 7th April 2012 – AVFF Pop-up Vintage Fair – 12 Noon – 17:30

THE METROPOLITAN - 60 GREAT WESTERN ROAD, LONDON, W11 1AB

As part of WestFest celebrations The Metropolitan (next to Westbourne Park tube) are hosting their 5th year event, which runs from 5th – 8th April. Every year they put on a micro music festival, with live bands and dj’s throughout the weekend. It is a free event for customers and a charity is supported. We are hosting a mini-Pop -up vintage fair upstairs in the venue.

Why wait til summer for your first music festival when there's one right on your doorstep - Hope to see you there!

Please do get in touch with us if you are interested in taking a stall at this event.

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Sunday 15th April 2012 – Anita’s Vintage Fashion Fair –

Battersea Arts Centre - 09.30 - 16.30

We are back for our first vintage fair of the year at The BAC on the 15th April.  The spring Fashion Fair is just in time for hectic summer months ahead. With calendars packed-full with seasonal occasions: Weddings, Ascot Race days, summer parties, and the prom season. It is the ideal time to prepare and indulge in those one-off vintage pieces.

Including: Swing and Jive dancing performance, Mini Hair & retro beauty sessions with Lipcote by Pincurls & Pout, Pop-up photo booth by Victor Moss Photography and The Vintage Cafe.

For more info on this event please click here.

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A FESTIVAL FIT FOR A QUEEN





Diamond Jubilee Festival, Battersea Park - The official Diamond Jubilee Party – 3rd June

Join us at the Diamond Jubilee Festival, Battersea Park for a majestic programme of music, dancing, fun, frolics and feasting!

On June 3 Battersea Park will become an immersive world of eccentric British culture, celebrating the 60 year reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Bringing together artists, designers, chefs and bakers, revellers will be royally entertained throughout the day.

Situated on the beautiful southern bank of the Thames, Battersea Park provides the perfect vantage point to cheer on the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant of 1000 boats. Festivalgoers will also be able to kick back in deck chairs and watch live footage from the specially erected giant screens.

Live music is the order of the day, with everything from 1950s swing orchestras on the bandstand through to Norman Jay’s legendary Good Times sound system - plus a host of exciting acts on the main stage.

If all things folky take your fancy, there’s a full programme at the “Village Green”, alongside Home Live Art’s “Alternative Village Fete”, where an array of interactive stalls await you.

And if that’s not enough, you can rummage for a royal bargain at our Classic Carboot Sale, covet a beautiful find in Anita's Vintage Fashion Fair or Etsy's Handmade Memorabilia & Vintage Collectibles Marketplace or hand craft your own souvenir at one of our many artist-led workshops. And for thrill seekers, Carters Steam Fair will take you high in the sky, and then bring you back safely down to earth where you can revive yourself with a cuppa and a bun baked by the WI, while you watch the competition to build the tallest cake in Britain.

Thirsty punters will be able to head to one of our bars including our pop up London pub, ‘The Diamond Geezer’ and stop for a sing-a-long and a right cockney knees up.

Curated by Hemingway Design and Clare Patey, the festival will evoke the best of eras gone by whilst marking the glorious present and celebrating the joy of being together on a historic day and public holiday. A short video of Wayne & Clare talking about the festival festival can be found below and on YouTube.

For more details about AVFF Vintage Marketplace at the festival please click here.

Watch this space for more detailed information about the day and all the artists – coming soon.

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Sunday 13th May 2012 - Anita’s Vintage Fashion Fair –

The 20th Century Theatre, Notting Hill - 11.00 - 17.00

Notting Hill is an exclusive vintage fashion event of 28 exhibitors held at the fantastic 20th Century Theatre in the heart of Portobello.  The fair is a must for all vintage dealers and vintage fans who look for exceptional high quality vintage fashion and accessories. Described by Time Out as ‘An Aladdin's cave of treasures’ to discover, AVFF fairs provide a relaxed and upbeat, creative atmosphere showcasing quality Vintage for exceptional value to stallholders and visitors alike.

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2012 dates for the diary:

We are back for our first vintage fair of the year at The BAC on the 15th April.  The spring Fashion Fair is just in time for hectic summer months ahead. With calendars packed-full with seasonal occasions: Weddings, Ascot Race days, summer parties, and the prom season. It is the ideal time to prepare and indulge in those one-off vintage pieces.

Including: Swing and Jive dancing performance, Mini Hair & retro beauty sessions with Lipcote by Pincurls & Pout, Pop-up photo booth by Victor Moss Photography and The Vintage Cafe – (now being run by Anita and the team).

For more info on this event please click here.

Please do confirm if you would like to take part in this event as we are currently experiencing high demand.  Please contact us asap to book your space either by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Anita on 0208 325 5789.

Image via Tammy Tutterow

Sending funny postcards on April Fools Day (the first of April) to friends and family of people holding fake fish was a French tradition in the early 20th century.

The icon of the fish being used during this time is often believed that in the French Rivers there was often an abundance of fish, especially in spring as the young had just hatched. These young fish were apparently easy to fool with a hook and lure. Therefore, the term "Poisson d'Avril" or "April Fish" became widely used and it was customary to fool people on April 1st as a way of celebrating the foolish fish.

There are many theories surrounding the origin of April Fool's Day, one particular being that it has strong links to the French calendar reform of the sixteenth century: In 1564 France moved their start of the year from the end of March to January 1. Those who failed to keep up with the change, and stuck with the old calendar system and continued to celebrate the New Year during the week that fell between March 25th and April 1st, had jokes played on them such as having cutout fish attached to their backs. It is still celebrated in France this way today with many people sneakily attaching paper fish to there prank victims back.

Hope you have a wonderful fish fun April Fools Day. AVFF x

Here is a selection of some beautiful french vintage "Poisson d'Avril" (April fools) postcards: