Manchester’s Gallery of Costume reopens

April 2, 2010 by Lena · 1 Comment 

audreyGOCOn 17 March, after a £1 million pound renovation, Manchester’s Gallery of Costume was reopened to the public. This vast collection of over 20,000 pieces covering over three centuries is housed in a Grade 2 listed former textile merchant’s home in Platt Field’s Park, Manchester. It is second only in importance to the V&A in London. Liz Kenny takes a closer look.

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Flapper invasion in Manchester: we went to the Charleston flashmob

March 9, 2010 by Lena · 1 Comment 

flashmob pam & terry 169It’s Saturday afternoon in Manchester and shopping area Piccadilly Gardens is teeming with shoppers and pedestrians going about their business. A man in a velvet frock coat casually sets down a stereo by a grassy verge and presses play. ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ by big band legend Louis Prima is soon blaring from the speakers.

Two smartly dressed folks begin to spontaneously dance the Charleston and then, as if by magic, other couples appear from the crowd and start to join them. Before long a synchronised routine is being played out in full of view of the amused onlookers. Liz Kenny reports from Manchester’s Charleston flashmob.

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Manchester’s vintage shops

October 15, 2009 by Lena · Leave a Comment 

RETREHManchester with its vibrant student population and history as a world centre for the textiles industry unsurprisingly has lots to offer the vintage hungry female. It’s possible to kit yourself out in style without so much as a whiff of high street, and eager vintage queens will find themselves spoilt for choice. Liz Kenny has compiled a guide to the best vintage shops the city can offer.
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