Living doll

ASLIMMER has opened a boutique for two weeks to sell the contents of her bulging wardrobe.

Alex Bloundele is hoping to find careful owners for her beloved, but baggy, one-off vintage pieces after losing four stone and dropping from a size 22 to a 16.

She is offering more than 70 plussize items which she thinks will be given a new lease of life by women of all shapes and sizes.

“I want these things to be loved, “ she says. “My wardrobe has broken from the amount of stuff in there.

These clothes are gorgeous and it’s such a shame that they aren’t being enjoyed.”

Alex’s passion for vintage fashion was kindled by her grandmother’s dressing-up box filled with petticoats.

She now makes frequent visits to London from Middlesbrough, where she trawls car-boot fairs as well as picking up original designs in charity shops and on eBay.

“I like to look different,” she says.

“It’s not a vanity thing, I would just feel uncomfortable being in the same room as someone who looked the same. One of the best things about fashion is that there are no rules.

Who says you can’t wear red with green? I like to take vintage clothes and mix them up with big flowers to make the look my own.”

Alex, 24, admits that everything she buys is with herself in mind, but if it has not been worn within six weeks, it becomes stock for her new shop. She has taken advantage of Middlesbrough Council’s We Are Open initiative, which is reviving empty units with a rolling programme of creative businesses.

Her “pop-up” unit, called Russian Doll Vintage, was inspired by being one of six sisters, all with Russian names. Alex’s full name is Alexanda.

The education worker, who briefly took over a unit in April, is making use of the summer holidays by setting out her stall from today until August 28.

“I definitely think there is a need for a vintage clothing shop for plus sizes,” she says.

“It can be very intimidating going into certain shops. Smaller women will be able to wear what I have too, just by putting a belt around things.

It’s all about giving clothes your own personality.”

Celebrities including Alexa Chung, Pixie Geldof and Daisy Lowe have championed the hand-me-down style, which is the antithesis to the much-copied catwalk collections.

Alex says popular vintage finds at the moment include floral prints, mohair jumpers, oversized grandad shirts, satchel bags and “nana” pixie boots. The Fifties is her favourite era, but the trickiest to source – so she is going to learn how to make her own creations by enrolling on a course at Cleveland College of Art and Design.

“It’s really hard when you’ve loved something but it doesn’t fit and so you can’t wear it anymore,” she says.

“But I will always have the memories and to keep these beautiful clothes would just be selfish.”

■ Russian Doll Vintage, 9 Newport Road, Middlesbrough. Open until August 28, Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm, 10am to 4pm on Sundays, closed on Mondays.

Don’t be Posh – put your best feet forward

SHE may have her own fashion line and designers falling at her feet but there’s one essential accessory Victoria Beckham is lacking in... pretty feet.

It’s official: the Spice Girl has the worst pair of feet in the nation, a survey by Scholl reveals. Almost three quarters (71 per cent) named Posh as the owner of the worst celebrity feet after years of wearing skyscraper heels with a bad case of bunion hangover to show for it.

But she isn’t alone – more than half (52 per cent) admitted to suffering from cracked heels and 40 per cent said they were horrified by their toes, identified as the least attractive part of feet, according to Scholl.

“Feet are the one area that’s neglected,”

says nail care specialist, Iris Chapple. “I would recommend a professional pedicure every four to five weeks, but if you’re on a budget I always suggest one before the winter, one after the winter, and one before your holiday.

“Try to think of your feet in the same way you would your face in terms of TLC and moisturising.”

Here, Iris offers her step-by-step guide to falling in love with your feet.

● Cut your toenails gently straight across with a sharp pair of scissors.

Don’t leave them too long, or cut them too short.

● File them after cutting, smoothing the ends of the nail.

● Use cuticle cream to help soften the area.

● Use a foot file to gently buff the backs of your heels and other hard patches while they’re dry. You can dip the buffer in water to soften.

● Use a foot scrub, or you could even use an exfoliating body or face scrub.

For a home pedi-pamper, soak your feet for ten to 15 minutes. Pat them dry and use a cuticle remover to loosen up any dry skin on and around the cuticle. Never cut the cuticle itself. Rub and massage foot moisturising cream into your feet until well absorbed. Finally, use your favourite nail polish.

Aid goes undercover

VIOLETTE lingerie, in Yarm, has become a collection point for a fledging charity called Knickers 4 Africa, set up to provide underwear to many in the world who do not have access to it, or simply cannot afford it.

“We were saddened when we read about expat Zimbabwean, Morag Roy, who having spoken with a local priest in Zimbabwe on one of her trips to her home country, was dismayed to hear of the ongoing sexual abuse suffered by thousands of women and young girls there, particularly in the villages,”

says owner Lesley Keneally. “In Africa, if a woman is wearing a bra, her perceived status is improved, and she is far less likely to be raped.”

People can help by donating second-hand, good condition bras of any size.

■ Violette stocks a selection of sports bras, first/teenage bras, costume jewellery and scented candles. Visit violette-lingerie.co.uk

Icing on the cake

SWINTON PARK, near Masham, in the Yorkshire Dales, has launched a winter wedding package for brides looking for an event with a real sense of occasion.

Catering for parties of from 30 to 60 guests, with or without accommodation, the packages start at £150 per guest, which includes drinks reception, wedding breakfast with wine, casino evening with bacon butties and a send-off with Chinese lanterns. The trimmings that can make all the difference include a piper, a piper band, ceilidh and ice sculptures.

■ Swinton Park Masham, Ripon HG4 4JH. Tel: 01765-680900.

swintonpark.com

Pucker up

A PERSONAL shopper might be out of the question but a personalised pout isn’t.

Pucker up with Bourjois’ latest Rose Exclusif Lipgloss, £6.99. The pigments react to the pH of your lips so you get a personalised shade of pink, varying from pale to bold pink. Stocked at beauty counters and by chemists.

LIPSY is searching for the face of its first fragrance, In the Spotlight.

The winner will become the star of the campaign, with £2,500 of Lipsy clothing and a £2,500 cash prize.

The closing date for entries is next Tuesday. Find out more at facebook.com/lipsylondon