Plum, and The Stylist's Rail: Frugal fashion from Henry Holland to the High Street

Every now and then, we stumble upon someone who's turned a really great idea into a reality. So when Plum, a lifestyle blogger and freelance PR consultant, got in touch about her pet project The Stylist’s Rail, we just had to find out more. Frugal fashion fans, this is definitely one for you.

So Plum, just what is The Stylist’s Rail?

The Stylist’s Rail is a wardrobe sale where the stallholders are a collective of stylists, vintage aficianados, independent brands, and stylish folk with cast-offs to covet. I currently hold it on the 1st Saturday of the month in Dalston, but throughout the summer have run pop-ups and collaborations.

Where did the idea for The Stylist’s Rail come from?

When it got to the stage that I’d amounted so many clothes that I literally couldn’t shut my wardrobe door! After having a huge clear-out I had a look at it all and thought “there’s no way I can put this on ebay”, it wouldn’t have been worth my time or the money. I decided to take my much-loved treasures along to a shop dedicated to re-selling second-hand clothes, but was very firmly told “we don’t do high street”. So, after having a chat with friends of mine who are a mixture of stylists and fashion enthusiasts, all whom have enviable wardrobes, it became apparent that there was a gap in the market. I decided that I had enough interest to set The Stylist’s Rail up as regular event and it’s now been running for 7 months.

What makes The Stylist’s Rail different to other rail-sales?

I think its point of difference is that the clothing and accessories for sale are a contemporary blend of vintage, designer and high-street, with a blend of up-and-coming designers thrown into the mix. Plus it attracts men as well as women - it’s not just for girls! It’s a destination for shoppers seeking one-off statement pieces, vintage treasures and high-street finds that are affordable, whether that’s last season Christopher Kane for a tenth of the price, a never-worn-before pair of Miista boots, or even a vintage tea-dress for £5. There really is something for everyone as there’s not a focus on just the one style. I think in that sense it’s representative of how we shop, so rather than wear a head-to-toe look, we mix it up pairing high-street with high-end to create something that’s totally unique.

Why the name The Stylist’s Rail?

Traders at The Stylist’s Rail are a mixture of stylists and stylish folk and it’s no secret that stylists have some of the best wardrobes going!

Being able to shop directly from their rail is a pretty exciting concept, plus you get to meet the women whose wardrobes you’re raiding. Stylists, fashion writers and editors from the likes of Wonderland, VICE, Red, WGSN, 55 Factory, ITV, Rough and Avenue 32 have all traded so there’s been some pretty special pieces for sale.

Special? Just how special are we talking here?!

Very! Previous labels I’ve spied on the rails include Charles Anastase, Thierry Mugler, Holly Fulton, Luella Bartley, PPQ, YSL, Christian Louboutin and even vintage GUCCI. One of my favourite items that sold (sadly not to me!) was a Henry Holland dress that a few weeks before had been spotted on Rita Ora.

It's all sounds so easy. Have you faced any challenges? 

Space is my biggest challenge. The Stylist’s Rail has grown in popularity and so finding a venue big enough to house the traders has been a challenge. That’s why this summer we’ve been popping up at festivals and various events including The Sanderson Hotel and East London’s boutique festival, The Pit.

We really admire your hard work, Plim. So what’s in the pipeline for The Stylist’s Rail?

Next Sunday, on September 1st, we’re taking over a floor of XOYO in Shoreditch as part of The Blues Kitchen Explosion which is a one-day mini-festival fusing live music, soul food, cutting-edge culture and vintage fashion. It’s free from midday until 4pm, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. Plus Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Huey Morgan and Andrew Weatherall are all DJing and I’m a big fan! Then on Saturday October 26th The Stylist’s Rail will be at The Hoxton Hotel for a fun-filled day of shopping, cocktails and DJs with some really exciting traders yet to be announced.

If I wanted to trade at your event what would be your top three tips?

First and foremost beg/borrow/buy a decent rail as you want something sturdy to hang your garments on, and if you’re going to invest then Brave Interiors do a great line of hanging rails. Make sure your clothes look inviting; when arranged by colour your garments are not only aesthetically pleasing but you’ll get a lot more interest as it makes it easier for people to hone in on a particular item. Finally don’t overload your rail, you want to make it easy for people to browse and pick items out.

Thanks Plum, we can't wait to pop along and start coveting those extra special clothes (you had me at Louboutins!)

You can find The Stylist’s Rail at The Blues Kitchen Explosion on Sunday September 1st which is open from midday until 4pm with free entry. Tickets to the evening’s entertainment can be bought from the link above. 

After that The Stylist’s Rail will be back in its regular spot at Birthdays in Dalston on Saturday September 7th with free entry from midday until 5pm.

For more infomation about attending, or trading, connect with The Stylists Rail on Facebook or tweet them @TheStylistsRail