My favourite vintage shop in Manchester is, without question, Retro Rehab on Oldham Street. If you live in Manchester and haven’t found it yet, then more fool you. If you don’t live in Manchester, it’s worth the trip just to visit this shop. If the land of Care Bears was a shop, this would be it. They carefully hand-pick, hand-wash, hand-mend (but without tackily ‘reworking’ them like so many places do these days) every item. They do all this with love, it’s easy to see.

I once bought a jumper in Retro Rehab and noticed a little pull on the back when I was at the till – woooosh! Out came the needle and thread and it was corrected in a flash! Now, that’s what I call service. It smells like sweeties in Retro Rehab. It’s painted candy green outside. It’s easy to understand why every beautiful item has been chosen. There’s plenty to choose from, but not too much so you don’t feel like you’re rummaging. I’ve never seen a dress in there for more than £26 – it’s cheap as chipshopchips. I always head straight to Retro Rehab when I want a guaranteed treat. You can pay on your card (handy!) and the girls in there are lovely. They have a wonderful sale rail all the time where I have bagged many a £1 piece that has gone on to dazzle.

I could probably say more about this wonderful shop, but suffice it to say it’s the perfect vintage shopping experience and you should all definitely go. It’s one of those shops that you try to keep secret at first; you want as few people to know about it as possible to ensure it doesn’t lose its sparkle. But, in an effort to be a better person, I’ve decided to spread the word today. Take the word and make use of it, I bid you.

So yeah, I popped in today. They’ve got bundles (the bundles aren’t bundled in any way, but arranged in perfectly neat rows according to style and colour and era (in that order)) of new stuff in for Spring. Eeeeeep! My knees literally went weak and I immediately feared for the safety of my bank card. There were lots of whites and creams and pastels and things perfect for summer weddings. I might have accidentally bought a dress which would do fabulously for said summer wedding, so if any of my friends fancy sorting one out pronto or if anyone who has already got one sorted fancies inviting me along, that’d be great, ta. It’s really beautiful, this dress, and was completely capable of transforming my mood. What a difference a dress makes, eh?

Also, can you feel it getting lighter? Can you feel it?? It’s past 5 o’clock and it’s still properly daylight. Daylight + perfect new dress = the start of something very, very good. Something tells me I’m into something good. I’ve got Herman’s Hermits on the go – can you tell? How lovely and playful and apt. I just can’t wait for the boy to come home from work so I can show him the dress and bounce up and down with glee.