Winnie the Pooh bow tie

If you hadn't guessed already, bow ties are my favourite accessories. So when Leah of 'Vintage Per Sempre' mentioned she had new stock of "jazzy bow ties", I popped by her Pokesdown boutique to see the designs for myself. Among her recent acquisitions were ties in Mr Men design, polkadot and velvet, but the winner for me was Winnie the Pooh.

The vintage Tie Rack bow tie embraces the Silly Old Bear's love for honey, with a golden honeycomb print and cute illustrations of Pooh with his honey pot. There is a wonderful sense of fun in the design - playful, rather than gimmicky. I imagine it may be a pleasant conversation starter at fashion events and parties.

This is the fifth bow tie in my personal collection, most of which are from vintage shops. Whilst the youthful high street labels are beginning to shift towards quirky styles, there will always be one better in a vintage boutique. And one of the many great things about Bournemouth, of course, is its foothold in vintage trade.