A father and daughter from Helsby have spread their wings and opened a new vintage fashion store in Frodsham

Aug 18 2011 by Rachel Cooper, Chester Chronicle

A FATHER and daughter have poured their shared passion for fashion into a new boutique bringing quirky retro fashion back to Frodsham’s high street.

Since Amelia Wheeler and her dad, Mark, launched theBlue Velvet Vintage Store last Saturday, fashionistas from across the region have flocked to the little shop tucked away on Collinson’s Court, off Church Street, in search of a quirky bargain.

The pair, who are both from Helsby, said that opening the fashion store was an ‘exciting’ change in direction from working with infants at Badgers Barn Day Nursery in Helsby.

Mark, 46, who runs the private pre-school nursery with his wife, Angelina, and his 24-year-old daughter has worked their since she left school.

Now despite promising that they will continue to work at the nursery part-time, the family team are determined to make their fashion venture a success, pouring their hearts and souls into the store filled with racks of vintage and modern, vintage inspired fashion dating from the 1940s to the 1980s.

Speaking about opening the store, Amelia said: “We’ve both always been really passionate about vintage and enjoy dressing a little bit funky.

“We’ve been collecting things for years and used to joke that we’d got enough stuff to open a shop and we just thought Frodsham hasn’t got anything like this, so just go for it.”

Since a successful opening day customers of all ages have enjoyed browsing through packed rails filled with brands such as Tara Starlet, What Katie Did lingerie and hosiery, Collectif and Besame Cosmetics, as well as authentic vintage pieces, which Mark and Amelia have sourced locally and from as far afield as America, Italy, France and Russia.

A Blue Velvet website is under construction that will offer online purchases, and Amelia said she would also be happy to hear from anyone wishing to sell good-quality vintage items.

“There’s a real demand for vintage clothing, fabrics are good quality and they are much better made than most modern stuff,” said Amelia, who is planning an official opening event this bank holiday weekend.

“We’ve only been open a few days but we’re getting really good feedback.”

The store is open from 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and on a trial basis on Sundays from 11am to 4pm. For more information, call Mark and Amelia on 01928 734961