Rokit Vintage Clothing

New York Fashion Week Faves: Miguel Adrover

2012-02-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

Before we dive headlong into the mania that is London Fashion Week, we've turned our attentions across the pond to see what New York, New York has to offer - all from the comforts of our ergonomic office chairs with very English cups of tea and... a Hershey bar on stand by. Yeah, we don't want to be seeing it all for real in the Big Apple or anything, no siree.

Putting our shan't-go-to-the-ball bitterness to one side, this week we'll be bringing you our pick of the collections sashaying down the NYFW runways, PLUS a guide to how you can make SS12's trends work for next winter (fashion moves fast, darlings, what can we say?!)

First up: the return of Miguel Adrover, whose experimental one-offs charged with meaning seem a little at odds with the slick elegance for which NY has become renowned. After a 12 year hiatus, Spanish-born Adrover is back with a bang.

Models were Amazonian hunter-gatherers assembling outfits from a rag-tag travel bag of recycled clothing - garments themselves were decontextualised (Comme des Garcons-esque upside down bomber jackets worn as skirts, burkha dresses and hip hop inspired snapback caps and low slung trousers). Flags and national iconography were a recurring feature: this was a collection charged with a sense of global upheaval, underscored by post apolcalyptic punk elements like tribal piercings, leaves, bark and worthless banknotes tossed from cardboard clutch bags onto the catwalk. Ok, so it could be accused of verging on the Derelicte at times, but totally bonkers cat sweaters aside, Adrover's work hammers home its message with don't-give-a-damn acuity of vision and some actually very wearable elements like layered plaid and denim, grungey mid length skirts, and pop culture prints.

images: fashionising

RIP Whitney

2012-02-13T01:14:00.000-08:00

Not A Schmaltzy 'Buy Heart Shaped Tat' Valentine's Day Post...

2012-02-10T09:01:00.000-08:00

We may not be trying to force feed you a diet of heart shaped crap that you wouldn't consider buying any other time of the year HOWEVER our current crush is that most romantic of colour combos, pink and red. Worn together. Head to toe. Settled? Team with a smug grin. Single? Team with an ironic "I'm sending up the entire corporate ploy" sneer, it'll definitely get you laid.

Ladies in red (and pink): the stuff of Chris de Burgh's dreams
images: Tuppence Hapenny Vintage; Emma Stone in Giambatista Valli; Trendy Crew; Lookbook.nu

WIN! 'The Wiyos' Tickets

2012-02-10T05:59:00.000-08:00

Grab your dancing shoes and dirndl skirts because we have tickets to give away for a foot-stomping double bill of American roots music with a contemporary edge this Sunday at Camden's Dingwalls!

Brooklyn combo The Wiyos blend traditional country blues/ragtime with melodic pop and even hip hop for a modern spin. Following a coast-to-coast US tour supporting Bob Dylan and a memorable appearance alongside Seasick Steve at the BBC's Folk America concert at the Barbican in 2009, The Wiyos make a triumphant return to London promoting brand new album Twist.

We have a pair of tickets to give away for this Sunday's gig - simply like the poster over on our facebook page by 5pm today to be in with a chance of winning!

If you don't win, never fear - pick up a discounted ticket for just £10 here!
AND
For the perfect outfit SHOP 1950s CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES here!

Fashion On Film: The Bride Wore Black, True Romance & Paris Texas

2012-02-09T04:37:00.000-08:00

If you've ever tried booking a table at a restaurant for 14th February then you'll know that on V-day, it is apparently deemed acceptable to charge the equivalent of Ireland's national debt for a gristly steak and McCain oven chips. It's daylight robbery, by romantic candlelight.

So good old fashioned staying in is where it's at come Valentine's Day - and whether you're cosied up a deux or flying solo, we recommend one of these schmaltz-free films exploring the facets of that ole devil called love...

La Mariee Etait En Noir (The Bride Wore Black) Francois Truffaut, 1968.
Not your traditional love story, admittedly: Truffaut's tongue is firmly in cheek in this affectionate homage-come-lampoon of the cinema of Alfred Hitchcock. Femme fatale Jeanne Moreau is ice cold and emotionless as the eponymous bride widowed on her wedding day, who spends the entire film tracking down and picking off five men to avenge her husband's death; all in a series of impeccably-styled monochrome outfits...

(L-R) black lace dress, £45; bridal coat, £80; monochrome shift dress, £55

True Romance Tony Scott, 1993:
Classic 'lovers on the run' formula + written by Tarantino + stoner Brad Pitt + the scene between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper + Elvis as an imaginary friend + Clarence's Hawaiian shirts + Hans Zimmer's 'You're So Cool + Alabama's pink leopard print leggings... There are too many good things about this film, just watch it!

(L-R) bikini top, £6; 90s Levi's 511s, NOW £17; sequin jacket, £150

Paris, Texas Wim Wenders, 1984:
Kurt Cobain's favourite film is an American road movie drenched in melancholia; following a man who once ran away from everything as he seeks to come to terms with himself and what he did by confronting those he turned his back on.

(L-R) red jumper dress, NOW £34; lumberjack cap, £10; sheepskin coat, £75.

Double Bagging...

2012-02-08T00:45:00.000-08:00

Rokit Recycled have done it again and proven they've got bags of style quite literally - their latest offering are these bags in pastel floral tapestry, £28. Each one is hand made from vintage fabrics and totally unique.

Double, triple, quadruple bagging!

Three Ways To Wear... Peplums

2012-02-02T06:20:00.000-08:00

Time to pep up your wardrobe with a peplum - a flared tier, often pleated or ruffled, which sits over the waist of a dress, jacket or blouse.

Fun fact: many think the peplum first enjoyed popularity in the 1800s, however if you're a fellow Ancient Greek geek like us you'll know that the style was first adopted in classical times - check out this lovely caryatid column for some true vintage inspiration!

Having been revived again in the 40s, adding a little coquettish flounce to sharp forties cuts and accentuating an hourglass figure - the peplum is once again in the limelight, seen all over the SS12 catwalks. But it doesn't have to be about ladylike structure: check out three ways to wear a peplum below...

FEELIN' FLORAL: Team an 80s peplum blouse with clashing floral shorts, chunky Doc Martens and a straw hat a la Ashish.

POLISHED PINK: An unashamedly girly pastel pink peplum dress will shine worn with a sequinned 60s tank top, black Chanel mary jane shoes and a cute hair band.

SMOKEY GRUNGE: Mix up spring's trends with a grungy ombre satin peplum shirt and grey creepers with a pastel lace dress and minty leather bag - just add a pale leather biker to cover up.

Stuff We Love: Marcel Fabre's 'Amor Pedestre'

2012-02-02T03:57:00.000-08:00

Oscar-tipped The Artist seems to have put silent film back on the radar, proving that sometimes with film, the simpler the better. And it doesn't get much more pared back yet wonderfully engaging than a love affair played out by the feet of three people - ladies and gents, introducing Marcel Fabre's 1914 futurist reductionist film Amor Pedestre...

Molly Soda, We Have Your Pants...

2012-01-31T04:00:00.000-08:00

image: Vice Style

And we even made a GIF to prove it...Pink acid wash £20; Blue pattern £20; Green acid wash £20

It's Art, Darling: Irene Alvarez, Cecilia Paredes & David Jones

2012-01-30T08:05:00.000-08:00

Enough fashion frippery! Let's talk art... In particular three artists who've caught our attention recently for their use of pattern and colour.

IRENE ALVAREZ

Turn Me Op - the latest body of work from Spanish textile artist Irene Alvarez - is a dizzying technicolour paean to both pop culture and ethnic art, fusing the abstract simplicity of form in Inca art with optical illusion techniques and cartoon icons like Mickey Mouse as a metaphor for the constant stimulation and bombardment of audiovisual culture.

Dress the part...

Bambi ring £8; Mickey Mouse neon tee WAS £20 NOW £13; Marc Jacobs op art scarf £65; Mayan calendar tooled bag £50.

CECILIA PAREDES

Peruvian photographic artist Cecilia Paredes' latest work - reminiscent of the Invisible Man project by Liu Bolin - sees her using paint and fabrics to blend herself in to the wallpaper against which she poses. The resulting images, in which the artist always leaves a part of herself revealed - her hair, the whites of her eyes, a fingertip - are a commentary on notions of belonging, relocation and displacement through migration.

Dress the part...

Kimono £65; floral silky top WAS £20 NOW £13; midi skirt £65; sun dress £35.

DAVID JONES

Works from 'The Versailles Complex' - a series by London-born painter David Jones - are currently being shown as part of Hoxton Art Gallery's Utopia exhibition which runs until 1st March. With fascinating yet unsettling pattern layered over lacquered aluminium, Jones' works are abstract visualizations of the primordial human psyche rendered in obsessive, baroque detail.

Dress the part...

Green patterned shirt £25; earrings £12; Rokit Recycled leather scrunchie £5; 60s mustard shirt WAS £18 NOW £8.

Irene Alvarez images from artist website and Dazed Digital; Cecilia Paredes images from artist profile on artnet; David Jones images from artist website and Upstairs Berlin gallery; all product images our own.

Da Bomb!

2012-01-27T04:35:00.000-08:00

L-R: Viktor & Rolf Monsieur; Asger Juel Larsen; Carlos Campos; Christopher Shannon; Versace

In fashion-land every season throws up its 'key pieces' [insert near-the-knuckle "much like models throwing up their lunch" joke here]. And bombing down the catwalks for spring - for girls and guys alike - is that mainstay of casual style, the bomber jacket.

L-R: lemon yellow NOW £11; patterned £35; harrington £45; patterned £25; pink satin NOW £12

Team a classic varsity style coach jacket like the lemon yellow number with a 50s shirt and slacks for a laid back look that screams star of track and field. Or make like Asger Juel Larsen or Christopher Shannon with bold and bad taste patterns paired with laid back sportswear and a snapback. If you're after something a litte less look-at-me then your boy's the classic Harrington as beloved by mods and skinheads teamed with some denim and DMs. And for those who want to make the boys (or girls) wink, then channel Versace by way of Grease with a pink satin beauty!

Colour is Big in Japan...

2012-01-27T01:55:00.000-08:00

Volt Cafe have done it again and wowed us with She Is A Rainbow, a shoot which is one part 60s op art to two parts Fairy Kei style. The marabou trimmed shoes and sugary lilac blouse are by yours truly - also loving those giant earrings and ear cuff by Fred Butler.

photography Rebecca Hawkes styling Emily Beard

All that colour and kawaii flavour got us dreaming about Japanese style, so we've hit Japanese Streets (alas not literally, just via cyberspace) for some more inspiration...

Colour blocking: not just for the girls

Got bag envy? Step this way...

Rihanna - Should've Gone To Rokit

2012-01-26T06:35:00.000-08:00

So I guess we've all seen Rihanna's latest (some would say ill-advised) tattoo. We recommend paying homage to Tupac with this set of THUG LIFE rings, they're cheaper and you can take them off at the end of the day without spending a packet on agonising laser surgery, always a win.

Stuff We Love: Maurizio Anzeri's Embroidered Photographs

2012-01-26T06:10:00.000-08:00

We all know the appeal of vintage images, but Italian artist Maurizio Anzeri has taken them to the next level with his series of embroidered photographs.

Delicate yet bold, the embroidery forms geometric patterns over and about the subjects' faces which manages to both obscure and accentuate their form. Breathtaking.

Anzeri is part of MakeUp, a collective exhibition at A Palazzo Gallery which runs until March.

Ben (2011)

Boo (2011)

Dempsey (2011) for Dazed & Confused - photography Richard Burbridge

Miles (2011) for Dazed & Confused - photography Richard Burbridge

Herieth (2011) for Dazed & Confused - photography Richard Burbridge

Phase 1 (2010)

Images taken from designboom

SS12 Menswear Trend Preview: KALEIDOSCOPE

2012-01-26T01:54:00.000-08:00

(L-R) Yohji Yamamoto; James Long; Prada; J W Anderson; Givenchy; Qasimi; Agi & Sam; Qasimi; Prada; Dolce & Gabbana; Martine Rose; Topman Design; Agi & Sam

Meet KALEIDOSCOPE, the first of our menswear trends for SS12. Lightweight pieces in rayon, silk or cotton are layered up in an intoxicating onslaught of floral, paisley, snakeskin, check, baroque and tropical print.

This is a look you can really make your own: bold pattern can be played down and pared back with sporty bombers, shorts, hawaiian shirts and vests; given casual insouciance with the clean lines of loose pyjama separates; and nothing says high impact like a sharp suit in kaleidoscopic print teamed with dapper silk scarves, hats and bold socks for dandyish flair.

(Top row, L-R) jumper £40; shirt £15; designer ties from £20 ; jumper NOW £59; foulard scarf £25; shoes £95; shirt NOW £23; shirt NOW £4.50; shirt £45
(Bottom row, L-R) shirt £45; hat NOW £20; foulard scarf £25; trousers £25; robe £60; jacket £35; jeans NOW £44; shorts NOW £17; jeans £45

What Do You Get If You Cross A Sheep With A Kangaroo?

2012-01-24T04:19:00.000-08:00

Invited onto Newsnight to discuss the ethics of breeding mutant animals? A slap on the wrists from PETA? An angry phone call from Rolf Harris explaining that is not what you should have done after tying his kangaroo down, sport?! No, a WOOLLY JUMPER! Speaking of which, watching this short animated film by artist David Shrigley has made us long for the cosy embrace of a Pringle knit.

So we rooted around the Rokit website to find a few Pringle shaped treats and came up trumps with traditional Argyll patterns in a range of hues, muted cable knits for the wallflowers among you, and our personal fave: a natty golf themed number. Enjoy...

Stuff We Love: Ten Jackets By Ten Artists

2012-01-20T03:57:00.000-08:00

Love this shoot from January's issue of Attitude, featuring ten Rokit jackets customised by ten different artists. Denim jackets start from just £13 in our sale, so why not get some paints and create your own?

Photography: Duane Nasis Styling: Elauan Lee

SS12 Lookbook & Behind The Scenes

2012-01-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

Introducing Rokit SS12, launching in store early February...

January Blues

2012-01-19T03:06:00.000-08:00

Hands up if you like denim?

Martin Sheen in Badlands is clearly a fan, and if you're a fellow jean genie then rejoice at the latest in our fashion history features (see also Dr Martens and Hawaiian shirts) on that perennial favourite: denim.

What's the story?

The story of denim is deeply entwined with American history: the humble pair of blue jeans harks back to 1849 when a young Levi Strauss headed west hoping to make his fortune through selling canvas tents and other supplies to the frenzied hordes digging for gold in California. Most of them were not interested in tents however Strauss saw that he could turn the canvas material into sturdy work wear that would withstand the rigours of the gold mines unlike the now-ragged city clothes that most of the prospectors wore.

When the demand for his canvas pants outran fabric supply, Strauss began making them from a more readily available material - denim, so named since it was originally loomed in Nimes, France (serge de Nimes).

Denim garments - jeans, jackets and dungarees - were the workwear of choice from this period onward, increasingly so during the Depression when they became a symbol of the American spirit fighting the hardships of the dustbowl, then adopted by cowboys, and being mass produced during war time before finally finding their way onto the backs of Hollywood stars who added a little glamour to proceedings and helped popularise them further...

James Dean: Rebel Without a Cause, but with a damn fine pair of jeans.

The 50s saw Marilyn Monroe and other ladies of the silver screen begin to wear denim, popularising it for women.

By the 80s jeans were a universal garment, worn the world over, with top fashion houses putting their own stamp on what was once the most practical work wear.

Kate Moss at the Rokit Warehouse in the early 90s, pictured leaning against bales of unsorted denim.
(photo by Peter Robathan, taken from Fashion Editor at Large).

The big guns (what to look out for):

We have denim to suit all budgets - our cut off denim hotpants made by Rokit Recycled from old Levi's 501s are just £20, while you can pick up a basic 80s or 90s denim jacket for as little as £13 in the sale!

True selvedge junkies will be pleased to see that we currently stock a plethora of Levi's Big E pieces, as well as Red Lines jeans and a covetable 1940s Second Edition Levi's jacket.

Second Edition jackets are a rarity and feature two vertical pleats running either side of the placket with bar tac stitching to reinforce, as well as the Big E label (which will date any Levi's garment to pre-1971 when a lower case 'e' was introduced to the pocket tab).

(L-R) Rokit Recycled ice blue cut-off hotpants £20; Lee Storm Rider jacket £45; 80s jacket £30; pinafore dress £35; Levi's fleece lined jacket £65; Rokit Recycled indigo cut-off hotpants £20; Rokit Recycled mid blue cut-off hotpants £20; Levi's 1940s 2nd Edition jacket £450; Levi's 1960s Big E 557B jacket £225; Levi's Big E 501 jeans £475; Levi's 1960s Big E Red Line jeans £525; acid wash dress £55

How to wear yours:

Classic denim never goes out of style, so we suggest wearing indigo wash jeans cuffed at the ankle with a vintage hawaiian shirt or blouse and simple pumps or loafers.

90s style high waisted jeans, with a slightly tapered leg look great in paler stonewash or grey wash, teamed with cropped jumpers and Dr Martens or military boots.

And for the fashion-forward? SS12 is all about distressed denim a la Marques Almeida and Acne...

Marques Almeida SS12

ACNE SS12

Or if you're more about the pastels trend, how about some candy coloured denim, available soon!

WIN! Secret Cinema Tickets...

2012-01-17T01:29:00.000-08:00

If you've ever been to one of Secret Cinema's totally immersive film events you'll know they're not to be missed. Tickets for January are now sold out, but if you are yet to embark on a Cultural Tour with Cecil B. Grant, we have one of the last pairs of tickets available for THIS SUNDAY 22nd JANUARY AT 12.30PM.

To enter, simply like and share the Secret Cinema logo over on our facebook page or tweet us telling us why you should win!

** THE SMALL PRINT **

Winner will be selected at random from facebook and twitter entrants.

Competition closes THURSDAY 19th January at 5pm.

We will forward your details to Secret Cinema who will add you to their guest list and contact you with details of dress code and location.

No cash alternative.

And if you're lying in bed at night racking your brains trying to think of what the film might be, check out Secret Cinema's event page, facebook and twitter for clues...

All this talk of film got us thinking not only about popcorn but also about the hundreds of derelict cinemas out there.Check out these haunting images of abandoned movie theatres...

photo: Bob Jagendorf

photo: rustyjaw

photo: Lauren Farmer

photo: shlee_photo

photo: Seth Gaines

photo: glennaa

photo: Preservation Research Office

SS12 Trend Preview: CHILD'S PLAY

2012-01-16T08:52:00.000-08:00

Raid the dressing up box with our next SS12 trend CHILD'S PLAY - a sugar coated mish-mash of texture and colour, where teen dream animal motifs and saccharine shades are subverted with freakish silhouettes and hemlines that would make your parents wince. With this look anything goes, as long as its carried off with tongue firmly in cheek, so reference 90s style icons like Gimme Gimme Gimme's Linda La Hughes (!), The Spice Girls and bindi-era Gwen Stefani in riotous printed blouses and skirts, voluminous petticoats, babydolls, platform shoes and bikini tops.

(L-R) Marques Almeida at Fashion East; Comme Des Garcons; Heidi Leung at Fashion Fringe; Meadham Kirchhoff; Louise Gray; Linda La Hughes (Gimme Gimme Gimme); Baby Spice; Meadham Kirchhoff; Gwen Stefani; Meadham Kirchhoff; PPQ; Topshop Unique; Ashish

Love the look? Shop a taster of the trend below...

(L-R) silk dress £95; platform trainers £20; top £13; knickers £13; bikini top £4; shorts £18; playsuit £17; platforms £26; blouse £18; trousers £20; shirt £18; denim skirt £10; sequinned jacket £150; petticoat skirt £40; Katharine Hamnett hoody £200; bag £25

THIS WEEK WE'LL ALSO BE REVEALING MORE KEY LOOKS FOR SPRING/SUMMER SO STAY TUNED KIDS!

On The Stereo...

2012-01-16T03:33:00.000-08:00

We were recently asked to compile a playlist of tracks that are played in the Rokit stores for a magazine feature, and in the name of not letting the shops have all the fun, the Rokit web team put our heads together to bring you a list of what we're listening to at the moment...

Crystal Fighters - Follow: brilliant song, and every time we listen we picture the even more brilliant video. And want to wear odd coloured lipstick.

Paul McCartney - Temporary Secretary: our favourite game is playing this to people and making them guess who it is before revealing that this is by the same man who wrote Penny Lane. It may be divisive (pretty sure it's a trigger song a la Relax in Zoolander for some of our colleagues) HOWEVER the rest of team Rokit love it for its experimental electro appeal and its cheery glass-ceiling-reinforcing lyrics.

TLC - Creep: fun fact: Left Eye was so against releasing this song as a single that she nearly wore black tape over her mouth in the video. Instead she wore red satin pyjamas, which as we all know are the benchmark of artistic protest.

Throwing Muses - Cottonmouth: a song that deserves way more recognition than it actually gets + girl crush on Kristin Hersh = hit repeat. And again.

LFO - Freak: we tracked this little number down after we saw the assault on the senses that is Gaspar Noe's Enter The Void and have been listening ever since. The video is inspired, and the banging beats make us type really really fast...

Len - Steal My Sunshine: makes us want to be lying on the grass in the sunshine. Roll on summer.

Mariachi El Bronx - Cell Mates: not so much fans of The Bronx but throw in some light up costumes and Mariachi style and you've won us over - this won't work for every artist we're not too sure about though (take note Avril Lavigne).

Vincent Vincent & The Villains - Johnny Two Bands: looks like the eponymous Johnny made the wrong choice because we love. this. song.

SS12 Trend Preview: WATERWORLD

2012-01-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

Make waves in our first spring/summer collection WATERWORLD. Wet look fabrics and diaphanous chiffons in barely-there watercolour shades are toughened up with scaly metal accessories, metallic leather and playful piscatorial prints while glittering sequins and shimmering pearls pay homage to that Ariel doll you had when you were a kid.

(L-R) Versace; Holly Fulton; Alexander McQueen; Chanel; Chanel; Giles; Mermaid Barbie; Mark Fast; Chanel; Versace; Givenchy; Alexander McQueen; Marc Jacobs.

If you can't wait for the full trend to be rolled out then shop our capsule collection of key pieces below...

(L-R) Rokit SS12; necklace £30; leather dress £80; sequin top £30; palazzo pants £75; metallic dress £15; net sandals £35; asymmetric dress £45; blouse £30; bra top £45; Ferragamo trousers £250.

AND DON'T FORGET TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THE REST OF OUR SS12 LADIESWEAR AND MENSWEAR TRENDS WHICH WE WILL BE REVEALING OVER THE NEXT WEEK...

Style Wars: 90s Fetish vs. Tribal Mash-Up

2012-01-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

Ding ding! It's style wars with two very different shoots featuring Rokit - in the red corner, Volt Cafe's Tribal Masquerade (dizzying mash-up of texture and colour with a dash of Americana) and in the blue corner Syn Magazine's Delphian (90s goth fetish with some Brian Harvey-esque beanie hat action thrown in for good measure). We like A LOT.

photography MERRY P styling JACQUELINE ANYANWU makeup/hair CHANTELL SIMONE GRAHAM

photography SEAN GLEASON styling SIOBHAN LYONS makeup ANNA GIBSON hair YUMI NAKADA-DINGLE

Stuff We Love: Irina Werning's Back To The Future...

2012-01-11T01:53:00.000-08:00

We've fallen in love with Buenos Aires-based photographer Irina Werning's 'Back To The Future' series, an ongoing project in which she and her subjects revisit the locations of old photographs of themselves to re-enact the images with painstaking attention to detail. Beautiful!

Three Ways To Wear... Rokit Recycled Knitted Pencil Skirt

2012-01-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

Yo. Knit wits that we are, we're rather enamoured with these knitted pencil skirts made by Rokit Recycled using reworked vintage jumpers. And with plenty of styles to choose from, we asked some of the Rokit ladies to show us how they'd wear their favourites...

"Referencing Clueless may be totally obvious, but this grey and sugary lilac Argyll number was crying out to be teamed with a boxy 90s blazer, turtle neck tee, patent backpack and some are-they-ugly-or-actually-the-most-amazing-thing-ever?! velvet boots. Throw in some sherbert yellow and white shades as a nod to this spring's pastel onslaught and you've got yourself a look."

skirt £30, jacket £25, sunglasses £15, boots £65, bag £45, tee was £15 now £10

"Aztec prints have been doing the rounds for a while now, as has former fash faux pas double denim, but what about some kind of double aztec and denim mash-up? Oh no I didn't! Oh yes I did, teaming this patterned skirt with tribal logger boots and Aztec buckle belt, topped off with a denim blouse and cosy fleece lined denim jacket."

skirt £30, sleeveless shirt £25, belt £18, denim jacket £60, boots £55

"The folkloric flowers embroidered on this skirt really pop when teamed with a contrasting floral print blouse, while the floppy hat, riding boots and belted coat pay homage to the chic side of the seventies in rich burgundys, reds and purple."

skirt £35, hat £20, pussybow blouse £25, coat £45, boots £60

Happy Birthday to the Thin White Duke!

2012-01-10T01:24:00.000-08:00

65th birthday congrats go out to David Bowie this week. We're especially partial to his Station to Station era sharp tailoring but if Ziggy's excesses are more your bag, then our jumpsuits are the way to go...

New Year's Resolutions...

2012-01-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

New year, new you and all that. Unfortunately here at Rokit we are very much strangers to the gym and don't like wheat grass so our bodies shall be remaining temples (of doom) this year. That said, we have made a few style resolutions so 2012 will see us...

EMBRACING OUR INNER CHILD with a novelty backpack - team with cartoonish prints and neon brights for full playroom chic!
(L-R) Minnie Mouse £20, Pink Panther £25, Monkey £25

EXPANDING OUR BAND TEE COLLECTIONS to match our ever increasing record collections and bringing you regular music reviews on the blog! Starting this week with The Maccabee's Given To The Wild...
(L-R) Metallica £25, ACDC £20, Willie Nelson £45

PAINTING THE TOWN PASTEL in SS12's favourite sugary shades, from sky blue to lemon to iced peach.
SS12 collections launching soon online.

MAKING LIKE MEADHAM KIRCHHOFF in a bonkers mish mash of textures and sugary shades enough to give you toothache! Be ahead of the curve in spite of the cold weather by teaming a cute knit with petticoat skirt and thick tights...
SHOP KNITWEAR & UNDERSKIRTS

CHANNELING SHAUN SAMSON'S PAEAN TO CALI-COOL MEETS SOUTH OF THE BORDER STYLE in a Mexican serape blanket and border patrol khakis.
SHOP SERAPES & SCOUT SHIRTS

KEEPING IT CLASSIC in Rokit Original footwear - timeless designs from one of Britain's longest standing shoe manufacturers.
Harris tweed ankle boots £189

If Liberace Did Lingerie...

2012-01-05T02:33:00.000-08:00

In the words of Wyclef Jean...

So if you dance go-go then you might want to hoist yourself into one of these beauties, available in gold or blue. So trashy but hot damn, we want one!

Gold bra top, £45

Blue bra top, £45

Not a ho, no.

SALE NOW ON!

2012-01-04T08:25:00.000-08:00

You might have noticed we've dropped it like it's hot this week; 'it' being our already ridiculously reasonable prices...That's right people, our MEN'S AND WOMEN'S SALE IS NOW ON!

And for any cynics out there who think that only the scrapings of the sartorial barrel are left come sale time, we bring you our top sherbert shade bargain picks which are bang on trend for SS12 plus a sneak preview of our new lookbook rolled into one. We spoil you, we really do.

Main picture: blazer £35, white shirt £20, chinos £20
First column: Bailey straw hat WAS £32 NOW £10, pink bomber jacket WAS £20 NOW £8, blue check shorts WAS £20 NOW £8, Celine yellow jumper WAS £90 NOW £63
Second column: oatmeal cardigan WAS £25 NOW £11, pink shorts WAS £20 NOW £13, tan leather derby shoes WAS £75 NOW £50, suede bomber jacket £20, trousers (just seen) £20

Main picture: blouse £18, belt £12, skirt £20
First column: damask dress WAS £40 NOW £27, cream shoes WAS £25 NOW £16, blue beaded top WAS £45 NOW £20, lilac mini skirt WAS £20 NOW £8
Second column: white sunglasses WAS £10 NOW £5, hawaiian blouse WAS £18 NOW £12, yellow shirt dress WAS £35 NOW £11, cardigan £30, white blouse £18, pencil skirt £25

Lookbook images styled by Scarlet Shillingford-Blay; photography by Emma Engkvist; makeup by Claire Lille for Illamasqua

Pat's The Way, Aha Aha, I Like It, Aha Aha...

2012-01-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

Now as we all know, Albert Square is a pretty dangerous place to be around Christmas with at least one person popping their clogs over their turkey dinner every year, and this year's (mutton dressed as) lamb to the slaughter was team Rokit's fave soap star of all time, Pat Butcher.

We may not be celebrating the life and times of Pat with a tributary tattoo (because we're pussies, but mad props to whoever this belongs to...)

HOWEVER we will be raising a glass of G&T to the lady's eye-watering sartorial choices. Check out our pick of Pat-esque eighties wonders and of course the obligatory ear candy below...

Earrings, £25

Earrings, £20

Pink & Black Jacket, WAS £40 NOW £27

Tiger Print Blouse, £35

The Morning After The Night Before

2011-12-30T03:27:00.000-08:00

If you're anything like us you anticipate doing some serious lounging on New Year's Day, only rising from bed/sofa/random floor of a random house that seemed so comfy last night to cook the mother of all breakfasts/be sick/change the TV channel to a programme with fewer bright colours and less movement.

And if you're not still wearing last night's clothes whilst engaging in such decorous behaviour, might we suggest one of our selection of dressing gowns, cosy knitwear or comfy sweatshirts as your outfit of choice...

40s satin bed jacket, £200

Donna Karan velvet robe, £125

Fan print kimono, £75

Angora cardigan, £45

Long cardigan, WAS £60 NOW £42

Ombre jumper, WAS £45 NOW £28

Chunky jumper, WAS £65 NOW £45

Dressing gown, £25 (worth every penny, as it is the uniform of the international player)

Mickey Mouse sweatshirt, £35

It's Business Time

2011-12-29T09:06:00.000-08:00

Just a quickie, but we had to comment on this 60s briefcase that just landed on the website...

In an era where this web hag's uncle was sent to the doctors by his father for wearing a pink shirt (true story), we cannot imagine this beaut going down well in the boardroom circa 1966. Luckily times have a-changed, and this kind of flamboyancy is now the done thing, especially if you work for some super progressive Nathan Barley-esque company with an office full of space hoppers and Innocent smoothies on tap (Dear Rokit Big Boss, please can we have space hoppers and Innocent smoothies on tap in our HQ, thanks.)

That is all.

Best Western...

2011-12-29T08:03:00.000-08:00

Saddle bag, £125

The humble western bag in its many guises has always been a firm favourite at Rokit HQ - from bold floral Sheridan designs to intricate saddle bags complete with stirrups or daring Mexican armadillo purses, we're all about paying homage to the land of the free and home of the brave with a bit of tooled leather arm candy. Most of the designs are hand crafted from beautiful hide and will age splendidly, so grab a fistful of dollars and get yours now...

L-R clutch bag, £15; armadillo shoulder bag, £275; western box bag, £65

SHOP MORE WOMEN'S BAGS ONLINE.

2011 Top 11..

2011-12-28T04:44:00.000-08:00

A little look back over our top moments of 2011...

11 - You're 'avin a giraffe!

Many a top night out was had by team Rokit this year but one of our favourites involved finding and kidnapping a comedian's stage notes left on a pub table in Angel. Through the wonder that is facebook we then reunited it with its rightful owner, one Chris Cantrill...

10 - Celeb spotting

Top celeb wearing Rokit spot this year has to be this fringed beaut as worn by Ellie Goulding on stage at V festival. We were then inundated with requests for said jacket but as we all know in the cruel world of vintage everything's a one off. You snooze you lose people.

PHOTO: instyle.co.uk

9 - TSOS x Rokit

This year saw us collaborate with Sabrina of The Science of Style who took over our store windows with help from a whole host of talented illustrators and designers... Her fashion dystopia at Covent Garden was a huge hit - rightly so for any installation that includes a gigantic renegade canary with vintage fabric eye patch.

8 - Look(book)in' good, feelin' fine...

Mad props to everyone involved in shooting our awesome AW11 lookbook (see their pretty faces in the behind the scenes video). We can't wait to show you what we have in store for SS12, suffice to say that paisley, pastels and frothy layering feature heavily, as you may be able to work out from our sneak preview below...

7 - Work hard, lunch hard

Constantly updating our stock requires a crack team of hardcore production, logistics and e-commerce experts tanked up on empty calories and this year's Rokit fuel du choix was Dominos Pizza. We're also pretty sure that our incessant rounds of 99 buying over summer will put the local ice-cream man's kids through college.

6 - Nice Girls Don't Wear Cha-Cha Heels

Our windows this year have been inspired by everything from New Kids On The Block duvet covers to the country hideout in Withnail & I, but our absolute favourite has to be the 'Nice Girls Don't Wear Cha-Cha Heels' display inspired by John Waters' 1974 film Female Trouble which came complete with pink and black hologram backdrop, a bonkers video featuring The Shamen's Victoria Wilson-James and specially designed stiletto head and shoulder pieces. More camp than Christmas.

5 - On Roofies in Camden

Summertime and the living was easy - team Rokit and half of Camden enjoyed a rooftop gig featuring the likes of Drag Your Heels, Echoes and Colour Me Wednesday. The sun shone, the cider flowed, Camden Crawl was well and truly usurped, the usual...

4 - Superstylin'
2011 saw some of our favourite bloggers and stylists - including (top to bottom) Jackie of Platform Princess, Navaz aka Disney Roller Girl, and Frankie of Swell Vintage - using Rokit pieces in their shoots. Who knew Mickey Mouse dungarees, hawaiian shirts teamed with cadet hats, and Miss Havisham-esque wedding dresses could look so hot?!

Platform Princess

Disney Rollergirl

Frankie Murray

3 - Conversations With Mr. Pat Sharp Esq.
We had one of those moments in life where we were truly star struck when Pat Sharp retweeted our picture of Pet Pat Sharp , a slightly modified duster from Poundland. Things took a darker turn when he revealed the Fun House twins were (and we quote) "locked in the boot" of his car...

2 - New Collections Galore!

We were spoilt for choice by Rokit Recycled this year who have kept on producing hit after hit, with all pieces hand crafted from recycled leather and textiles. Best sellers included the leather tote bag as beloved by many a fashion blogger, studded leather collars, and the bold mini skirts as worn by the likes of Eliza Doolittle. For the boys, our customised chinos, sleeveless flannel shirts and cut off vests flew out of the stores...

Rokit Recycled Ladieswear SS11

Rokit Recycled Menswear SS11

2011 also saw us curate some of our favourites trends - we were among the first to spot the emerging Navajo trend way back in January and loved what Charlene of Strutt La Mode did with our Heritage collection, not forgetting the fluffy romanticism of Ballet Boudoir which coincided with the release of Black Swan...

English Heritage

Americana

Ballet Boudoir

1 - P.A.R.T.Y? Because We Gotta!

So our top moment of 2011 has to be our press party back in April. On a quiet Sunday 20 fashion-types descended on the Rokit warehouse where they were invited to rummage through our metaphorical drawers, feast on a decadent tea party by the Vintage Patisserie, indulge in vintage hairstyling and manicures and listen to some live music by up and coming bands. Top moment: impromptu roller disco to the strains of Black Lace's 'Superman'...

Merry Christmas...

2011-12-23T04:23:00.000-08:00

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow...

2011-12-23T01:31:00.000-08:00

We want to have a snowball fight with The Beatles.

Decadent Party Hats From Bee Smith NOW ONLINE!

2011-12-22T08:20:00.000-08:00

Just a heads up: milliner and Rokit Designer's Guild-ee Bee Smith's latest collection of decadent party hats - perfect for adorning your head on New Year's Eve and beyond - are now available online. Bee has created a collection of occasional hats and fascinators - from £45 - exclusively for Rokit and all are hand crafted using time-honoured techniques and vintage millinery designs. Get yours now!

Space Oddity? Rokit Oddity More Like...

2011-12-22T04:50:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, roll up roll up as we present to you our top ahem, "quirky" pieces of 2011...

5: No wonder these boys look happy, just look at what they're wearing! Clown suits: the new black.

4: Free Willy! Before you go anywhere near your fly, invest instead in this bonkers baseball cap with half a killer whale whacked unceremoniously on the brim. Maimed stuffed toys: the new black.

3: Check these beauts, affectionately named 'those Mr Men shoes'. Raiding Mr Noisy's wardrobe: the new black.

2: Move over Manolo, the latest in covetable designs comes from Manilow, in the shape of this brightly coloured baseball tee. 'Believing in Manilow Music': the new black.

1: She had to be in at number one didn't she? These kids who've started demanding Xboxes and iPhones, do they realise they've turned their backs on the simple pleasures of hideously a fused apricot Furby and demonic doll? Exactly. The dark heart of Satan masquerading as a quirky accessory: the new black.

SHOP MORE WEIRD STUFF HERE!

BEHOLD: The Rokit Recycled Laptop Bag Has Landed!

2011-12-22T01:05:00.000-08:00

If you have asked Santa for a new laptop this Christmas then we have two things to say to you:

1) What the hell is wrong with a charming wooden spinning top or hand-sewn rag doll you avaricious bastard (it's ok, we're just jealous because our own laptops seem to have been whittled from wood back in 1953 and have all the memory of my nan, who thinks it's still 1953)

and

2) Why not invest in one of these Rokit Recycled laptop cases, hand crafted from vintage leather offcuts and finished with sturdy zips to tote that most precious of cargo in style. These beauts are a masterpiece of simple design, come in a variety of finishes for boys and for girls and would double up nicely as a mahoosive clutch bag should the inclination take you. Win.

SHOP OUR NEW LAPTOP CASES HERE, £25.

For Sake Of Auld Clothes, Shoes & Accessories...

2011-12-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas hasn't even shown its face yet but in the spirit of being prepared and avoiding another thrown together fancy dress / safety pinning a curtain to the bottom of a cocktail dress to make it into a 'ballgown' / giving up and just staying in wearing a dressing gown fiasco on New Year's Eve this year, might we suggest that you invest in some decent party wear now...

Our hard working 'sexy packing ladies' (so denominated by the Area Manager) will be continuing to dispatch orders made over the Christmas period, posting on the 28th, 29th and 30th December - just ask for special next day delivery to get your auld (read: vintage) garms in time for the clock striking 12!

SHOP MEN'S SHIRTS

SHOP PARTY & EVENING DRESSES

SHOP MEN'S ACCESSORIES

SHOP WOMEN'S ACCESSORIES

SING IT, BOWIE!

2011-12-21T02:03:00.000-08:00

FOUR SLEEPS TO GO! Today at work we will mostly be working like elves to get all those last minute special delivery parcels to you in time for Christmas, eating party size tubs of Twiglets, supping Beechams cold remedies like it's going out of fashion and gearing up for THIS tonight. Nice.

Don't Forget... Los Locos Presents A Twisted Christmas Carol - TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

2011-12-15T04:40:00.000-08:00

Lest you should forget, next week sees London-based musical collective Los Locos present an evening of twisted, vintage-inspired Christmas tales and their very special type of 'dirty jazz'.

Head to Proud Camden on 21st December where gypsy-folk-meets-rockabilly rapscallions Jack Green & The Band of Thieves, a vintage style circus set and a darkly comic narrative based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol await...

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL ROKIT STORES, £8, and online at www.viewtickets.co.uk

See you there!

LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE: Menagerie A Trois

2011-12-15T04:34:00.000-08:00

Got any friends like this guy? We wish we knew him - if only for his sweet mullet, laser wallpaper and dirty old man glasses. This man clearly loves his cat A LOT (insert pussy joke here) so if you are pondering what to get feline fanatics or aardvark aficionados like him this Christmas then check out our selection of gifts for animal lovers...

TOP (L-R): doggy bag WAS £28 NOW £10; keyring £4; denim jacket £40; butterfly top £45
2nd ROW (L-R): scarf £50; bug necklace £20; hare pendant £18; cowboy boots £95; kid's hat £16
3rd ROW (L-R): cardigan WAS £75 NOW £52; horse brooch £20; belt £15
BOTTOM (L-R): horse tee £20; penguin ring £8; butterfly bag £70; Escada jumper £120; fascinator £45

SHOP ALL MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GIFTS ONLINE.

LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE: Inspector Gadget

2011-12-14T06:21:00.000-08:00

As this picture proves, videogaming has come a long way...

That said, retro gadgets do have a certain je ne sais quoi about them, so third in our last minute gift guide series is presents for the tech-heads...

Clockwise, from top: Mario t-shirt £15; LuLu casette tape necklace £12; camera £120; buttonholer £12; light meter £20; travel alarm clock £12; Mattel Classic Sports video gamer £25.

SHOP ALL MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GIFTS ONLINE.

Festive Style Icons - Christmas Tree

2011-12-14T02:21:00.000-08:00

We hate to utter the sentence "where Katy Perry leads, we all shall follow" but when it comes to festive dressing K-Pez has it in the bag...

A facial expression that can only be caused by getting pine needles where there should be no pine needles...

So for those of you wanting to unleash your inner Norwegian Spruce this season look no further than this little bobby dazzler, £65, topped with a star brooch, £20...

SHOP MORE EVENING AND PARTY DRESSES HERE

LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE: Let's Get Physical

2011-12-13T04:52:00.000-08:00

Second in our series of gift guides for hapless souls who have yet to do their Christmas shopping - sporty but nice pressies for footballin' friends...

This is just a whole world of therapy waiting to happen.

TOP (L-R) Rokit Recycled tennis vest £20; sweatband set £5; Chicago Bulls vest £25; rollerskates £45
MIDDLE (L-R) letterman jacket £95; tyvek jacket WAS £35 NOW £23.50; cricket vest £20; bowling buffalo cardigan £85

BOTTOM (L-R) football boots £45; tennis racket £16; gym bag £25; bowling shirt £35

X(Factor) Rated...

2011-12-13T01:15:00.000-08:00

Check out this smorgasbord of X Factor finalists wearing Rokit! Petticoats, sleeveless hoodies, leather gilets, belts: worthy winners Little Mix et al have rocked the lot in the past few weeks. And this particular web hag is hoping that the phonecall requesting a press appointment for Jonny Robinson is only a day away! Metallic suits at the ready...

Festive Style Icons - Mrs Claus...

2011-12-12T08:20:00.000-08:00

While many a children's storybook presents her as a rosy cheeked and rotund, snack-toting female equivalent of her hubby, we secretly hope that Mrs Claus is actually a right gold digging minx who thought she was onto something when she saw Santa's sweet ride (beats a Bugatti any day), treats the elves like slaves, and is hoping to inherit jolly old Saint Nick's six billion dollar duplex in Lapland when he pops his clogs which with his strenuous workload and penchant for brandy and mince pies is surely only a matter of years away. Bet she shimmied her way into his affections wearing something like this little number...

Red velvet dress, WAS £65 NOW £19.50

Faux fur jacket, £40

Peep toe heels, £55

LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDE: It's Only Rock & Roll

2011-12-12T07:05:00.000-08:00

Less than two weeks to the big day, and a mere week until our last standard postage date for Christmas - but before you panic-buy those Vanilla Musk bath cubes or that novelty gumball dispenser, how's about perusing our LAST MINUTE GIFT GUIDES. We'll be publishing one a day for the rest of this week.

First up, gifts for the musically minded...

Do they know it's Christmas? MJ clearly does...

Clockwise, from top: musical note blouse, was £18 now £12; Barry Manilow baseball tee, £18; Metallica t-shirt, £25; marching band jacket £85; ACDC t-shirt, £20; French horn necklace, £18; guitar ring, £15; piano braces, £10.

SHOP ALL MEN'S AND WOMEN'S GIFTS ONLINE.

Los Locos Presents... A Twisted Christmas Carol

2011-12-09T06:29:00.000-08:00

London-based musical collective Los Locos presents an evening of twisted, vintage-inspired Christmas tales and their very special type of 'dirty jazz'.

Head to Proud Camden on 21st December where gypsy-folk-meets-rockabilly rapscallions Jack Green & The Band of Thieves, a vintage style circus set and a darkly comic narrative based on Dickens' A Christmas Carol await...

Rokit have provided some dazzling Tim Burton esque costumes and with sets designed by emerging London artists the show is sure to be a feast for the eyes!

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL ROKIT STORES, £8, and online at www.viewtickets.co.uk

See you there!

Toy Story

2011-12-09T02:42:00.000-08:00

So today at work, we found this backpack...

When we'd stopped quaking in a corner, we embarked on a quest for / googled the most ridiculous children's toys out there...

Donald What-the-f**k!

Now we know why Wolverine's so angry all the time: this little known secondary mutation.

So apparently this is a sled with elongated handle. Why, what were you thinking?

Yes, we CAN shave the baby. OR we could take it to a qualified medic since it clearly has some kind of horrendous hormonal disorder... we like that the manufacturers have taken the trouble to extend the hair to the sides of its torso in the form of some hirsute braces because simply giving it pubes would be grotesque. Hairy ankles are cute, apparently...

Shop BAGS and TOYS & GAMES on our website - order by the 19th for Christmas delivery!

Christmas Opening Hours!

2011-12-07T06:14:00.000-08:00

Shop faux fur coats here

Time waits for no man so make sure you're not left out in the cold this festive season and check out our Christmas and New Year opening times...

Rokit Brick Lane (larger store)

101 Brick Lane, E1 6SE

Mon 19th - Fri 23rd Dec 11am to 7pm

Christmas Eve 11am to 5pm

Christmas Day CLOSED

Boxing Day CLOSED

Tues 27th - Fri 30th Dec 11 am to 7pm

New Year's Eve 11 am to 5pm

New Year's Day CLOSED

Rokit Brick Lane (smaller store)

107 Brick Lane, E1 6SE

Mon 19th - Fri 23rd Dec 11am to 7pm

Christmas Eve 11am to 5pm

Christmas Day CLOSED

Boxing Day CLOSED

Tues 27th - Fri 30th Dec 11 am to 7pm

New Year's Eve 11 am to 5pm

New Year's Day CLOSED

Rokit Covent Garden

42 Shelton St, WC2H 9HZ

Mon 19th - Fri 23rd Dec 10am to 7pm

Christmas Eve 10am to 5pm

Christmas Day CLOSED

Boxing Day CLOSED

Tues 27th - Fri 30th Dec 10 am to 7pm

New Year's Eve 10 am to 5pm

New Year's Day CLOSED

Rokit Camden

225 Camden High St, NW1 7BU

Mon 19th - Fri 23rd Dec 10am to 7pm

Christmas Eve 10am to 5pm

Christmas Day CLOSED

Boxing Day CLOSED

Tues 27th - Fri 30th Dec 10 am to 7pm

New Year's Eve 10 am to 5pm

New Year's Day CLOSED

Online
www.rokit.co.uk

We will continue to take and process orders throughout the Christmas period. However please be aware that our third party couriers experience high volumes of parcels at this time of year and do not deliver at all on 25th, 26th, 27th December and 1st and 2nd January (3rd January in Scotland). We advise ordering as early as possible, but as a guide...

LAST POST:

Standard postage (UK):
Place your order before Monday 19th December for delivery by Christmas Eve.
Next Day Delivery (UK):
Place your order by Wednesday 21st December and ask for special next day delivery in the notes or comments box at checkout to guarantee delivery in time for Christmas Eve.

RETURNS:
Our standard returns policy is still in effect however we will continue to accept returns on unworn items with tags still attached until Monday 9th January if your order is placed on or before Monday 19th December (Wednesday 21st December for special delivery). customers).

Buffalo Stance...

2011-12-06T05:31:00.000-08:00

Buffalo cardigan, Cowichan, Salish sweater, that-patterned-number-as-worn-by-The-Dude: these traditional knits go by many names but one thing's for sure, they are the ultimate in winter warmers.

Time for a history lesson (this will be more fascinating if you pretend that you are sitting comfortably at Jeff Bridges' feet as he imparts pearls of knitwear wisdom to you in his syrupy voice...)

"Early versions of the iconic knit were produced by the Cowichan tribes in British Columbia, Canada, combining traditional spinning techniques with the textile patterns brought over by European settlers. By the 40s the sweaters were gaining popularity and companies like the Mary Maxim Co. started selling mass-produced designs; other designs are unique to particular knitters and passed down through families or between friends where they might be customised once more, producing a vast variety of charming patterns."

Thanks Jeff.

So if you've ever felt that something indefinable is missing as you sup that White Russian or dive across the bonnet of a 1975 red Ford Gran Torino, gun in hand, then look no further than the humble Buffalo cardigan - cosy, versatile, quirky and the ideal Christmas gift!

Get yours now in store or online...

Deer pattern £65

Husky pattern £75

Car pattern £95

Sailing boat pattern £80

Classic geometric pattern £50

Girls who are boys, who like boys to be girls...

2011-11-30T04:38:00.000-08:00

Ladies -if you've been lusting after our Rokit Original handmade brogues for the past few years, you can rejoice - good things come to those who wait and the latest sprog in the Rokit family is these Ladies Brown & White Leather Brogues! Available in sizes 4-7 so there's no excuse not to give the dapper chaps a run for their money in the androgynous style stakes...

Men's Rokit Original footwear is available online and in store in a variety of styles, from £129.

The Christmas Partying Starts Here...

2011-11-30T02:27:00.000-08:00

Just a wee heads up - we're hosting our Christmas Party in store event at our Covent Garden store next Thursday. There will be discounts, xmas stockings, Christmas cheer aplenty and PRIZES of £75, £100, and £150 Rokit vouchers and an exclusive Illamasqua makeup course to be won! See you there...

Blanket-y Blank

2011-11-25T02:08:00.000-08:00

Make like a mariachi with one of our new lot of Mexican serape, Mayan and Navajo style hand-woven blankets. We've got all shapes and sizes whether you're after a little Shaun Samson-esque number in which to swathe yourself or want to give your home some south of the border style. Prices start at £15 so get yours now. Arriba!

Shaun Samson SS12 - pictures courtesy of Totem

Pink & Purple Stripe Falsa £25

Blue Serape £35

Vintage Mayan hand woven £150

Rainbow pattern £45

Burgundy Navajo pattern £45

All I Want for Christmas is...

2011-11-24T03:27:00.000-08:00

Now that those clever scientists at CERN have mastered travelling faster than the speed of light, we live in an age where time travel is actually possible. Unfortunately we also live in the age of the novelty Christmas posing pouch...

Introducing the 'Santakini' - we hope this model got paid A LOT.

In an attempt to wipe this scourge of Christmas gifts off the face of the earth this particular web hag has travelled the length and breadth of Rokit HQ and talked turkey with a few 'key players' in the Rokit scene to find out what vintage treats from our men's and women's gift shops they are hoping to find under their tree this festive season...

Buyer and product developer Dania (she's not really a cat) will be spending a civilised Christmas morn playing backgammon before donning this cosy faux fur headband for a post-lunch stroll. Or something. She's also hoping to find this reindeer ring in her stocking although she does admit the knuckleduster would probably come more in handy for threatening family members as they try to take the best Quality Streets.

Top Christmas snack: "Celebrations (Malteaser ones!)"

By the looks of her gift picks, web photographer Emma E. will be spending Christmas in her native Sweden, lounging around looking all leggy and blonde and soignee (damn her 'fit Scandinavian' genes) in this beautiful cappuccino-coloured satin camisole and trilby hat and taking some family photos on this vintage camera.

Why is Rudolph's nose red? "Err.. is he an alcoholic?"

So I'm going to level with you, this is me, and I can't bring myself to write in the 3rd person: Basically I want the necklace because I am an obsessive Jurassic Park fan (I'm still a little uneasy that I have lever door handles and not doorknobs in my flat since velociraptors can open doors). The tribal carpet bag is just awesome and ticks all the right boxes for this nava-ho. And I am newly enamoured with all things figure skating since I met the real-life equivalents of the Blades of Glory guys at a party a few weeks back, so this buffalo cardi will do nicely.

Death match between the 3 wise men, who would win? "The one with the gold, I hear ingots are good for bludgeoning."

Head of accessories Gavin is known (mainly to himself) as Dr Shoe around these here parts, because of his encyclopedic knowledge of all things Doc Martens, so naturally he's chosen a pair which he will no doubt team with this natty jumper (jazzy pattern = can't see cranberry sauce and gravy stains). He's also very houseproud so a West German Art Vase will go down a treat.

Sprouts - discuss: "I've only just started eating carrots and parsnips (not a veg man) so it's a thumbs down from me."

Resident glamourpuss and Head of Menswear Emma R. loves the kind of old-school elegance you can only get from wearing a Rokit Recycled faux fur stole, embellished turban and suspender effect tights. Not necessarily all at once.

Top Christmas tipple: "Gullabaga's - a cocktail of bathwater with strawberry bath foam bubbles on top that I used to make for my parents whilst playing barkeep at bathtime as a kid."

Head of Ladieswear Paul spends all year selecting vintage dresses for Rokit so for Christmas only the manliest accoutrements will do: dapper Rokit Originals hand made brogues, a top quality leather hat by Bailey of Hollywood and vintage 50s silk tie will do nicely.

Favourite Christmas song: "Any of them if Pete Burns did a cover of it!"

And don't forget for the final touch, our Rokit Recycled Christmas Stockings are back online for a purse friendly £8!

Illamasqua & Rokit

2011-11-22T05:40:00.000-08:00

Last week, some of team Rokit were lucky enough to be invited down to cult beauty brand Illamasqua's west end flagship store to indulge in a two hour makeup course at their School of Make-Up Art.

Arriving at the school - beautifully decked out with mirrored work stands and dramatic black and cream striped latex curtains - we were greeted by professional make-up artist and key educator Claire Lille who talked through what we wanted to achieve from the session: strong brows and dramatic lips on the one hand (or face!) and sixties eyeliner and the art of contouring on the other.

Here's a few snaps of the evening, big thanks to Illamasqua and Claire Lille for making us pretty!

Makeup Artist Claire Lille and Rokit laydee Imogen looking suitably made-up with the results at the end of the session!

So many goodies! Where to begin?!

Website Manager Holly's sample card with tips on how to recreate the look at home.

Much mirth when we realised we could make several 'troweling it on' jokes.

Putting the trowel to good use...

Eye eye captain! Loving the silky matte finish of Illamasqua's eyeshadows.

Tools of the trade.

All in all this was a fantastic taster course and left us uber excited since we are teaming up with Illamasqua to create a totally unique vintage styling experience. Visit the Illamasqua School of Makeup Art site to book the 'Art of Self Indulgence' party and quote Rokit when booking for a unique night time 'lock-in' at Illamasqua with a Vintage Glamour twist.

Perfect as a winter pick-me-up with your closest friends, before the office Christmas party or as the ultimate festive gift for Christmas morning kudos!

The private party offers the ultimate chance to explore old-school makeup looks and unleash your vintage alter-ego. After you have perfected your pout and lined your lashes you will have the opportunity to raid the Rokit dressing up box, taking tips from our styling cards and lookbook to recreate era-faithful looks or mixing and matching for your own personal slant. And once you're dressed to the nines you can have your picture papped for our Rokit & Illamasqua hall of facebook fame!

(L-R) blue 60s dress £75, 40s rainbow dress £300, Valentino 80s dress £250, pink 60s dress £80, 40s green gown £100, burgundy 50s dress £80

A 2-hour course, run by Illamasqua's professional makeup artists, is for parties of 6 to 12 people and costs £50 per person including one complimentary product each.

WATCH THIS SPACE for details of an exciting instore Christmas shopping event in collaboration with Illamasqua on 8th December...

The Pursuit of Cosiness...

2011-11-15T00:50:00.000-08:00

Proving that faux fur is far from fashion faux pas this winter is Disorder's latest shoot, A Winter's Tale - featuring one of our new fake fur headbands and vintage scarf and cardigan. And in pursuit of cosiness this winter here are our top fake fur picks available online now...

Earmuffs, £6 - other colours available!

Pom pom button jacket, £45

Trapper hat, £18

Rokit Recycled collar, £30

Headband, £12 - other colours available!

Ver-ver-sace...

2011-11-10T03:37:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the latest designer-high street collaboration betwixt Versace and H&M? Want to channel the dressed by Donatella look in Gaga-esque OTT Italian attire? We most certainly do, however our mortal fear of being seen wearing the same dress as anyone else - especially a bit of Versace which ain't exactly subtle - means we shall be saving our pennies for the vintage real deal, available on our website now.

And for those of us not blessed in the wallet department (hi, fellow London dwellers) we also have a brilliant selection of eighties extravagant patterns and 90s coin embellished finery which will give you the look for less.

Check out our top 10 Versace and Versace-esque treats below...

Versace Studded Shirt, £25

Versace Silk Tie, £45

Versace Shirt, £35

Versace Jeans, £65

Versace Handbag, £750

Earrings, £20

Knit Top, £35

Skirt, £25

Versace Sunglasses, £120

Versace Sports Ski Jacket, £175

Shop our entire selection of vintage designer pieces for men and for women - from Mugler to Moschino, Dior to Dolce and Gabbana online now!

Raining Cats & Dogs...

2011-11-09T01:09:00.000-08:00

Sorting through thousands of clothes and accessories to bring you fresh deliveries of vintage goodness each week has its perks... The production team here at Rokit HQ often find little gems such as lost photos - maybe they should start a tumblr a la Found Photos? This one was found in the inside pocket of someone's long forgotten handbag... But what to call these two firm friends? We're open to suggestions but the obvious choice is...

Remember, Remember...The 80s Wonder That Is The Shell Suit!

2011-11-07T01:18:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Bonfire Night this past weekend, team Rokit have made it their mission to revive that oft-maligned late eighties / early nineties wonder, the shell suit!

Harry Enfield's Scousers, a firm place in the hearts and wardrobes of the chav community, and that episode of 999 where some devil-may-care renegade ignored those ad campaigns that specifically urged folks not to wear the nylon nightmares on the 5th November only to have his shell suit melt onto him after a run-in with an errant Catherine Wheel -all seem to have been nails in the humble shell suit's coffin...

Indeed this particular web-bitch can recall her own mother having to stop, drop and roll after catching the sleeve of her shell suit (a sporty purple and turquoise number) on the hob whilst knocking up a delicious batch of sticky chilli chipolatas, Bonfire Night 1990. The shell suit was left, sad and smouldering in the bucket of water used for disposing of sparklers. True story.

Should've listened to Michael Buerk, mum.

This man knows a good shell suit when he sees one.

BUT WE SAY, if they're good enough for Jimmy Saville (RIP) and half the fashion shoots in Vice, then offensive geometric patterns, retina-searing colours and a sort of crispy, scrunchy sound as you walk are good enough for us. Check out our selection of 80s track jackets and team with something a little more modern e.g. skinny jeans or leggings, or maybe a novelty sweatshirt to really ram home that eighties irony.

Shell jackets available in store and online here.

TOTES Amazing...

2011-11-03T03:27:00.000-07:00

If, like us, you tend to cart inordinate amounts of 'essentials' (read: crap) about with you on a day to day basis, then you will rejoice at the latest design from the Rokit Recycled team - the humble shopper bag is given a fashion-forward and eco-friendly twist, made from reworked vintage leather jackets lined with retro printed textiles and featuring a couple of sturdy shoulder straps which even the heaviest of junk can't break.

We debuted these babies back in April at our blogger event and as you can see, among others they've become the tote du choix for Alexxsia of My Labyrinth, Clara of I'm Not Trendy who has teamed hers with some covetable Comme des Garcons flats, and Lucy of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts who has thrown away the rule book and turned hers inside out to reveal its snazzy striped lining (reports that this is Beetlejuice's old suit are as yet unconfirmed....)

Available in store and online now for a purse friendly £25!

Happy Halloween...

2011-10-31T04:31:00.000-07:00

Bitches & Hos(iery)

2011-10-31T03:04:00.001-07:00

Here at Rokit HQ we love a bit of Vanilla Ice, almost as much as we love keeping our legs looking hot and feeling cosy all winter, so it is with "tights tights baby" - a little-known remix of Vanilla's classic hit - on the stereo that we present to you our new hosiery for AW11. Cute heart and bow suspender effect tights rub shoulders (or should that be knees?) with colour block purples, and silvery greys are a nod to the metallics trend. Get stuck in!

Autumnal purple colour blocking your thang?

(picture courtesy of Annika V. / lookbook.nu)

Or grungey faux suspenders?

(picture courtesy of D Disorder / lookbook.nu)

Platform Princess x Rokit

2011-10-10T01:36:00.000-07:00

We've fallen head over heels for these interpretations of our current trends - view the lookbook here - from stylist, blogger and all-round fashion royalty Jackie of Platform Princess, pictured above at the Rokit warehouse at our press party back in April.

SLOGANS & POP ART

"These dungarees are a great 80s throwback - who doesn't remember their childhood, skateboarding around in the 80s listening to 'The Bartman'!"

SHOP DUNGAREES, CROPPED TEES and CONVERSE

BONDAGE & FETISH

"I love a bit of bad! But if you're more lady than Gaga in Mugler, leather skirts (like this mini) teamed with chunky knits are an easy way to wear this trend for winter."
SHOP LEATHER SKIRTS

METALLICS & EMBELLISHMENT

"I ADORE this silver turtleneck and its nod to the Spice Girl-ed 90s. These loose fitting leather shorts are also pretty special, ticking two boxes for me as Bermuda shorts are also a trend I'm loving at the moment."

SHOP PARTY TOPS, JEWELLERY and LEATHER SHORTS

SEVENTIES

"Paisley and earthy tones were all over the catwalks for AW11. Mix it up this winter with clashing paisley separates like this blouse - more is definitely more! For SS12 it's also going to be huge with Topman Design, J.W Anderson and Jonathan Saunders heavily incorporating it into their shows."

SHOP BLOUSES, LEATHER WAISTCOATS and BOOTS.

POLKA DOT
"Polka dots for me are timeless and easy to wear in a sea of overwhelming trends. I love this oversized jacket, teamed simply with a pair of skinny jeans and heels for a classic feminine look."

SHOP JACKETS and JEANS

Model: Agnieszka @ MaxModels

Styling: Jacqueline Anyanwu

Photography: Daniella Maiorano

Art Direction: Jacqueline Anyanwu & Daniella Maiorano

Make-Up: Carlota Pardo

Hair: Tanja Nagy

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words...

2011-10-06T01:59:00.000-07:00

Culture vultures searching for an art hit this weekend should head over to Dalston based gallery Tina, We Salute You for photographer Man Cheung's 'Picture of the Day' exhibition.

Close to four years in the making and 1300 images later, the exhibition presents a selection of Man's images - all of which are available on his website - in print for the first time.

The exhibition runs from 2-16 October and all photographs are available to buy.