Custard Factory Heaven!

I'm always on the lookout for interesting places with that old High Street feel and boutique stores. Alcester (where our shop is based) really has the traditional English village feel to it and has lots of unique little shops but we're lacking in the boutique clothing department which is frustrating. Luckily I discovered a doozy of a place this weekend!

I've driven past The Custard Factory in Birmingham lots of times and have been meaning to go for ages. This weekend my husband and I decided to stay overnight in Brum so we could do lots of shopping and eating and generally let our hair down so once we had dumped our bags at the Malmaison in the Mail Box we headed straight for Digbeth!

The Custard Factory, Birmingham (images courtesy of The Guardian - it was raining too hard to take pics when we went!)

I can highly recommend a jaunt to anyone interested in vintage and couture clothing and accessories. It's a truly eclectic mix of unique styles and innovation with a firm appreciation of heritage and bygone eras. I love it! :) There are lots of vintage and antique clothing boutiques, a gorgeous corsetry specialist and a couple of jewellery stores who stock one off pieces by Art College graduates. There are vintage record stores, a specialist musical instrument store, a fab tattoo and alternative beauty parlour as well as a 1950's inspired beauticians and a specialist artwork store. Like I said - I love it!

I did make a purchase; well two actually. Both from Burbo K'ture, an amazing designer who uses vintage fabrics and clothing to craft modern, one of a kind pieces you won't see anywhere else. All his items are hand made and really good quality and he's unbelievably down to earth with his prices. I couldn't resist buying two dresses and although he's a stylist as well as a designer he never once made me feel awkward while I ummed and ahhed in my bare feet with my hair all straggly from the rain outside. Lovely guy :)

(Pics courtesy of Burbo)

So now I need another weekend away to wear them both (although I have paraded around the house in them with my slippers on - hence no pictures going on here!)

Now if I could just convince him to open a shop in Alcester my life would be complete!! And I'd be poor... ;)

TTFN!