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Yesterday I sent some goodies to my regular stockist Forty Four in Lincoln and Angela sent me some photos of her boutique - see above. There will be a Christmas Market between the 1st and 4th of December and if you break out of the hustle and bustle and flee down Steep Hill behind the Roman Gate you'll the discover the crisp aqua and white Forty Four which is stuffed full of cute trinkets!
I have also recently stocked up So and So in Newcastle. I met Charlotte originally at Portobello Market and I thought I'd catch up with her to see how things are goin'...
*Lady Luck* Tell us a little about you and why you decided to open So and So...
*Charlotte T* Well firstly there was nowhere in Newcastle to buy handmade clothes and accessories, it was all high street and only a couple independent shops selling big named brands - which I wasn't interested in and I knew there were lots of other girls in Newcastle who felt the same. There are 2 huge universities in Newcastle and some very well known fashion courses but none of the graduates seem to stick around and set up businesses, so I thought why not just do it myself! I've always been good at researching and was aware of so many‚ talented businesses across the world that had never been given the opportunity to sell their items to the public in a real bricks and mortar shop. I've always been interested in fashion and visited the fashion markets of London a few times a year (where i first saw lady luck!) and have designed and made my own clothes for years, I even have my own label in SoandSo that I run with my mum and sister!
*Lady Luck* Aww, you make clothes with your Ma and sis - I love it! Tell us more about your label and also about the other labels you stock...have you unearthed some design talent from the local universities?
*Charlotte T* Ha ha! Our label is called Frock and we mainly do knitted stuff; bags, cuffs, shrugs, boleros, neckwarmers etc. It's actually been my best seller in the shop since opening and I've since expanded it to 2 shops in Edinburgh, the Newcastle arts Centre, Leeds, Manchester and will also soon be on Cut and Paste! My mum and sister both work full time but spend their nights knitting! My mum is very inspirational, when she was younger she knitted for boutiques in Leeds and use to do her own stalls. I am also the founder of Newcastle's knitting club; Miss Spiritual Tramps Knitting Club, we've been running over a year and a half and still meet every week in The Fourth Pub in Newcastle!
I have indeed unearthed some talent from the local colleges and Universites...one particular label Bassface Music has always been a bestseller at SoandSo. Her 'I stole Barbie's Buttons' plectrum earrings were my number one seller for a long time until the designer Hannah couldn't face the time consuming design anymore! Her most recent project has been clocks and in particular a leather screen printed cuckoo clock which sold straight away and also scouted by Topshop oxford cirus!
Sorry forgot to mention other labels I stock! The more well known ones are Red Mutha, Lazy Oaf, Rebecca Jay, I saved Laurence, Jolaby and Bow Wow Wow (where lady luck is also sold!)
*Lady Luck* Ooh fantastic! I'll keep an eye out for your goodies on Cut and Paste and maybe take a peek into Topshop next time I'm up west to see Hannah's stuff. So when you're not knitting or running your cute shop what else fills your time?
*Charlotte T* I don't think anything has actually materialised with hannah's clocks at Topshop yet but I'll let you know if/when it does!
Well as you know running your own business is hard work! I have to work 6 days a week and it doesn't leave time for much else but i do enjoy going to the local arthouse cinema, going to the new carling academy or the Sage; newcastle is great for live music. Of course my day off is spent car booting as there are some fantastic car boots here in the north east which run almost all year round; last weekend i picked up 15 original 1950s mushroom money boxes in their original boxes and a 1950s leopard print sewing table!
*Lady Luck* Oh wow...my inner green eyed thrifty monster is looping the loop. I'm glad all these vintage finds are going to a good home.
What are you future hopes and dreams for So and So?
*Charlotte T* My future hopes and dreams for soandso? Well I hope the crafty girls of Newcastle keep supporting me and I hope to continue in my quest in making Newcastle more creative, with a fashion market I've dreamt up which starts on the 20th of this month!
*Lady Luck* Go Charlotte! How can all the Newscastle crafty tykes apply for a stall and where will it be....?
*Charlotte T* They can send me an email to info@soandso.biz and it's going to be on the terrace of a bar called Stereo on Newcastle quayside on a sunday afternoon!
*Lady Luck* If you can't make it to the fashion market why don't you pop by the shop and say hi to Charlotte and peruse the ace merchandise. Go to - So and So, 69 High Bridge, Newcastle, NE1 6BX.
I love So & So, it's one of the best shops in Newcastle, it has really unique things and it's always nice to buy one offs, especially the crayon earrings!
ah so&so. my local haunt for ladyluck finds when my debit card is at home dying and internet shopping is a no-go.
I love it there and the stock is absolutely gorgeous.
all you ladyluck fans should make a visit.
=) x
Now that boutique looks ultra cute! May just have to pop in...
Love Lorna xXx
Awesome interview!
Do you know of any quirky shops like SoandSo around Cardiff...?
I've only found one vintage clothes shop...I'm buzzing to find some more...
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I know this has notjing to do with the shops and all but it was really bugging me. Everytime i tried to get on to look at all your wonderful trinkets it just comes up with WARNING:THIS PAGE HAS AN ERROR!! And i really like your site and wanted to make a new wishlist for christmas and i can't do that when i can't get on to the merchandise. Every other pages of the site work and it has alays worked before. Maybe it is just my computer but please could you have a look at it?
Thankyou,
Love Em
Sorry Emily! We are experiencing problems with our server at the moment with the shop going off line now and then. I'm so frustrated and annoyed... We are moving servers on tuesday (fingers crossed) which means the shop will be offline for 24 hours but when it returns the service should be flawless. If anyone is having problems placing their order you can telephone it through on 020 7923 1968. Thanks for your sweet patience everyone x x x
Thankyou!!! I was getting really frustrated too.
Hey just wanted to say i got my Ooh La La Guitar when i got back from school and had to go out to show it off thank you soooo much it's so cute!
Luving the stuff
and So&so looks so kewl!
THANK YOU!
Charlie x
I love Blondie broch,it got here with amense speed,and the box that it was in was cute,as well as a card to get in contact with the site,lady luck does rule lol.
Leahxx
Picked up my Leopard Legs tights today...
They are gonna go fabby-dabby with my new coat in all it's bright red glory :)
Thanks so much .... xxxx
:-D
I got my fantastic parcel of wonderful things today! I love it!
I was sat at the bus stop slowly peeling back the sticker to make the fun last for a as long as possible! I love it so much!
All the necklaces and earrings, plus the badge are going to make great presents (some for me of course!) I can't wait to see my friends faces!
And my Friendship purse is a million times better than the picture. And the badge and postcard are amazingly cute.
Thankyou times a million xxxx
I received my crazy crayon necklace and hully gully guitar earrings today! they are BEAUTIFUL! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! xx
HOWDY
everythings going a ok well better than a ok its going super for lady luck!!
she obviously very much rules - *okay*
but hey, i was wondering, did you ever find out what pete doherty said to your mate emm jim was it?? 'cause pete doherty is super!if you meet him well *grrrr*
x
super!! my unicorn necklace came and i LOVE it!! its bigger than i thought it would be, but thats so much better, lovely
Hi Leona, just thought I'd tell you that I saw Lauren Laverne (if thats how you spell it) off Xfm wearing your guitar earrings on channel 4's Music Hall of Fame the other night :D
Heey Leona,
I was wondering if the NY Dolls and Blondie Pop Rocker necklaces are going to be stocked up on again because I'm probably going to get one!
Imogen xx
So and So is my favouritest shop in the whole wide world.
but she wouldn't let me work there. i asked. *sigh*
lol
When I first saw there wasa stockist in Lincoln, I walked all the way up steep hill to find the shop being redeocorated! :( But as I'm going home to Lincoln today I'll have to make sure I pop in and have a look :D
i love ladyluck and the delivery service was amazing!!it was so fast that i couldnt believe!i reccomend ladyluck!great style and great service :D
hey! just fort id say i love all your stuff on your site, exactly what me n my sister love so i bought her sum xmas pressies da other day offline and got them two days later! rapid service ahy! just fort id say thanks but am pretty :( dat da bambi lookin earing with da bell isnt on da site nemore!! my mate would have LOVED dat 4 xmas! lol xxx
Hi! Just to say thank you sooooooo much for the earrings ! They rock ! And they got here so quick ! Anyway thanx agen xxx
So and So is closed down now, I miss it badly!
I really would like to see it come back to where it belongs!
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