Clothes and more at vintage boutique House of Avalon

9:33am Tuesday 24th August 2010

By Maxine Gordon

ALL is not as it appears at the House of Avalon. The new vintage boutique in Petergate, York, is an intriguing venture – worthy of its equally intriguing name.

Step over the threshold and you think you have uncovered a gem of a vintage boutique. Which is certainly the case.

But explore deeper and you will find a hairdressing corner and a rear tearoom, where tea and coffee is served in quaint china cups while classic black-and-white movies are being screened.

“Coming here is like walking back in time,” says Charlotte Douthwaite, at House of Avalon. “We want people to feel like they have stepped back into the Forties or Fifties. We want them to have a good experience and drink tea like they did in the olden times when drinking tea and socialising was their idea of fun.”

Like all workers at the boutique, Charlotte is dressed in a colourful tea dress and even has a vintage name while in the store: “Lottie”.

Old is the ‘new’ new and vintage clothing is a leading fashion trend, spawning its own shops as well as copycat retro designs on the high street.

But at House of Avalon, everything is authentic. Clothes date from the 1910s through to the Sixties, with most pieces from the Forties and Fifties.

“That’s the most popular,” says Charlotte. “The oldest piece we have is a black lace jacket from 1910.”

The jacket (£75) is tiny and trimmed in black velvet. It seems remarkable that it has survived in near perfect condition for 100 years. Likewise the pink lace blouse (£48) Charlotte chooses next.

“It’s from the 1920s and was worn as a night shirt,” she says. “These days, people wear night dresses to go out in – they even have some in Topshop. There are quite a few people copying vintage clothing, but this is the real thing.”

Other gorgeous garments include a 1940s white dress – a wedding dress – in silk, with cotton and satin panelling, for £60.

There are jewellery and vintage bags too, as well as a selection of old sewing and knitting patterns.

Tucked away in a corner of the boutique is a porcelain sink and barber’s chair, where York hairdresser Laura (“Daisy”) Mills offers vintage hair makeovers four days a week.

“I do beehives, victory rolls, lots of big curls. It’s perfect for a day at the races or for a big night out,” says Laura.

“The Fifties look is really trendy at the moment; everybody wants Fifties hairstyles. I have also done quite a few Forties styles for people going to Forties re-enactment weekends in Whitby.”

Not everything is retro. Laura also offers mainstream hairdressing too, with prices at £32.50 for a style or £42 for a cut and style.

Likewise in the tearoom, it’s not wartime Camp coffee that’s for sale – instead take your pick from lattes, espressos and cappuccinos, expertly made in the state-of-the-art Fracino machine with freshly ground beans from the neighbouring York Coffee Emporium. Naughty-looking cupcakes are on sale too from a company in Harrogate, while scones are baked by Krumbs of York.

Everything in House of Avalon is for sale, including the tables, chairs and candelabras in the tearoom – and the dainty china cups and saucers.

Although it is run like a business, House of Avalon is a charity venture, aimed at supporting people with learning difficulties.

It was opened in May by the group charity Avalon which operates across the north of England. Avalon runs various services to help people with special needs live in their own homes, or have breaks with families, or take holidays, but also operates social enterprises to give people work experience and employment.

Schemes currently running include painting, decorating and gardening services – so setting up a vintage boutique and café is quite novel.

House of Avalon manager Pauline “Violet” Closier says the idea came from the charity’s boss, Angelena Fixter, who is a huge fan of vintage. Angelena scoured shops, sale halls and eBay to buy goods and fittings for the shop.

Two adults with learning difficulties work at House of Avalon alongside staff and volunteers.

“We believe passionately that people should have nice jobs like the rest of us, and not just collecting trolleys in a car park,” says Pauline.

Laura “Lulu” Errity, 22, of York, found herself working at House of Avalon after going to Mencap for help in finding a job. “I did a couple of courses there on how to get back into work, and they helped me to get a job here. I treat myself as a normal person, I just need a little help in other areas.”

Laura says she enjoys all her duties, from being a shop assistant to making coffee and waitressing.

Staff and volunteers are looking forward to their first fashion show, at The Guildhall, York, on December 7 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and will be available from the shop at the beginning of September. All proceeds will go to the charity.

The boutique needs more volunteers and vintage items to sell. Goods can either be donated or bought by the shop.

Pauline was seconded from Avalon to set up the vintage shop, and is thrilled with its success. She believes passionately in giving people with learning difficulties equal opportunities.

“I had a daughter with learning disabilities, that’s how I came into social care,” says Pauline. “People can live in a ghetto and become segregated.”

She says ventures such as House of Avalon are important for adults with special needs. “It exposes them to the same expectations about behaviour and work ethic as the rest of us – and gives them an ordinary experience.

“But I think it’s a two-way street. The rest of the community benefit from rubbing shoulders with people with difficulties as well – I don’t believe all the giving is on our side.”

• House of Avalon, 5 High Petergate, York. Open six days a week, closed on Mondays except Bank Holidays. Find out more at: thehouseofavalon.org.uk