Shropshire Star

Keeley's got designs on vintage fashion in Shrewsbury

[gallery] A fashion industry expert who has organised photo shoots for the likes of pop superstar Lady Gaga has returned to Shropshire to promote vintage glamour in the county.

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Keeley Connor, 42, from Shrewsbury has joined Halls Auctioneers as a consultant to oversee its vintage fashion, couture and textiles department.

She has spent the last seven years working with fashion industry people, photographers and celebrities as studio director in Liverpool for her sister, Zara Grey, a leading London fashion producer.

During that time she has set up photo shoots for famous fashion advisors Trinny and Susannah, as well as global pop sensation Lady Gaga. She described the singing diva as 'absolutely charming'.

"She loves fashion and chose to wear a vintage dress, she loves to be unique," she said.

Following her return to Shropshire, Keeley took the opportunity to model some of the vintage items in her own collection to encourage people to rummage for hidden gems in their wardrobes.

Among the glamorous items, was a vintage black and white spotted evening dress from the 1960s, which will be going up for auction at Halls in December.

Keeley said: "This is just a cotton, unlabelled dress but what is lovely is that it is very similar to the Chanel dresses on the catwalk at the moment."

Another item she modelled was a 1950s coat, which she picked up in fashion guru Mary Portas' charity shop in Primrose Hill, London.

She also tried on a grey chiffon and satin evening dress from the 1970s.

Another dress, which is also due to go under the hammer at Halls in December, is a 1960s Carnegie dress, with a zig-zag design. Keeley said: "It looks like something out of a David Bowie video."

The fashion expert, who previously worked for Halls in the early 1990s as a jewellery cataloguer and fine art secretary, said she was looking forward to working in Shropshire.

She said: "I am very excited to be returning to work with fine art director Jeremy Lamond and his team at Halls, particularly as the company will be moving to its new headquarters and salerooms early in the new year.

"I want to help establish Halls as the leading auction house for vintage fashion and textiles north of London and plan to use the contacts that I have made over the years to source items discreetly.

"I want people to develop a passion for fashion at Halls and we aim to make our auctions inclusive not exclusive. Vintage fashion is very much in vogue.

"Many stylists and celebrities are hugely influential in their recycling and reusing of fashion rather than spending a huge sums on designer pieces every time. It's much more fun and original to combine the old and unique with cutting edge design."

Mr Lamond said: "We are delighted to be working with Keeley to meet the growing demand for vintage and antique fashion, couture and textiles from the people of Shropshire and beyond."

Keeley will hold her first free valuation day for vintage and antique fashion, couture and textiles at the Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury tomorrow from 10am to 1pm and is now accepting entries for the next auction on December 5.

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