Fed up with current high street fashions? Why not try a different style with a vintage look, says William Crossley

Fashion fans with an eye for a bargain should make tracks for Oxford on Saturday, when Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair arrives with the promise of lots of January sales offers.

More than 40 vintage traders will be selling clothes from the 1920s onwards, homewares, accessories and other collectables at the event, in the University Catholic Chaplaincy, at the Old Palace, Rose Place, off St Aldate’s, from 11am to 4pm.

Spokeswoman Emily Hughes said: “In January many of the traders slash their prices to make space for new stock, with some items discounted by up to 75 per cent, so there will be some great bargains to be had.

“The traders come from all over the country, so you won’t see items that are on offer in vintage shops in and around Oxford.

“It’s a great chance to find a nice coat for the rest of the winter, or find different or unique items that you won’t see anyone else wearing when you’re walking down the street. A lot of the clothing is also very high quality and has stood the test of time.

“Each of our fairs has a different vibe, depending on which traders are attending. Some will specialise in one era, but there’s always an amazing variety of things on sale, from every decade.”

Oxford is just one of the venues that founder Judy Berger’s fairs visit each year. A fashion stylist who worked retailers, she held the first in London in 2005 after becoming fed up with the high prices of clothes in the capital’s vintage boutiques.

She wanted to make vintage items available to people with a range of budgets. She soon found she had hit on a winning formula and now stages fairs in more than 30 towns and cities across England Scotland and Wales.

Emily added: “We’ve held several fairs in Oxford and have always had really good feedback from people who’ve come along.

“People who may not think they like vintage often come along and find something that they really like.

“It’s a big event, so I’d advise people to spend plenty of time looking through all the rails and stalls to see what’s available.

“Bringing some friends along is also a great idea, so there’s someone to bounce ideas off and get advice about an outfit you might not necessarily have thought about buying - plus there are homemade cakes and savouries and tea and coffee available, so you can take a break and have a chat between browsing the rails.”

Admission to Saturday’s fair is £2 per person, but Oxford Mail readers can get two-for-the-price-of-one admission on presentation of this page as proof of purchase at the entrance. Please note that photocopies will not be accepted.

For more information about the fair and the forthcoming Judy’s Vintage Kilo Fair at the same venue on Saturday, February 18 – when clothes will be sold by weight for £15 per kilogram – see judysvintagefair.co.uk