Twinwood Festival takes place at the end of August, which means one of the weekend's most anticipated events is just around the corner, the Mr Vintage UK 2026 competition.
Celebrating far more than great clothing, Mr Vintage UK shines a spotlight on the passion, knowledge and personality that make the vintage community so special. From impeccably tailored suits to carefully researched original vintage ensembles, each competitor brings their own interpretation of classic style to the stage. It's a chance to celebrate craftsmanship, tell the story behind your outfit and meet fellow enthusiasts who share a love of vintage fashion.
We're delighted to be sponsoring Mr Vintage UK once again this year. Alongside the prestige of taking home the title, the 2026 winner will receive a £100 Revival Vintage gift voucher, perfect for adding another timeless piece to their wardrobe.
If you're entering this year's competition, who better to learn from than the finalists from 2025? We caught up with some of last year's competitors to hear what vintage means to them and to gather their top tips for anyone hoping to step onto the Twinwood stage this year.
Andrew Bradshaw
Andrew travelled from Royston to compete in last year's final. An avid collector of vintage clothing and memorabilia, he balances two careers as an engineer and an on call firefighter, while making time for vintage festivals, dancing and expanding his ever growing collection.
What first attracted you to vintage fashion?
Andrew's interest in vintage fashion grew from historical reenactment and dancing. He quickly developed an appreciation for the way vintage clothing fits and the confidence it brings.
How would you describe your style?
He describes his style as "totally outrageous" and enjoys wearing pieces that stand out from the crowd. Rather than following trends, Andrew embraces individuality and isn't afraid to experiment with different vintage looks.
Where do you find outfit inspiration?
From original photographs, books and historical literature. Research plays a huge role in helping him create authentic outfits while still making them his own.
What's your favourite part of vintage events?
For Andrew, it's all about the people. He loves the welcoming atmosphere at festivals like Twinwood and enjoys seeing the creativity everyone brings to their outfits.
Andrew's Top Tip For Mr Vintage UK 2026
His advice is refreshingly simple:
"Do your own style and not just the same things as years before."
Authenticity and personality will always leave a stronger impression than copying somebody else's look.
Andrew Parsons
A familiar face in the Mr Vintage UK competition, Andrew returned to the stage in 2025 after enjoying previous appearances in the final. His journey into vintage fashion began thanks to his wife, who had been wearing 1950s inspired reproduction dresses for several years. As they started attending more vintage events together, Andrew gradually built his own wardrobe, discovering both original vintage pieces and high quality reproductions along the way.
What started as an occasional hobby has since become a way of life. Andrew once joked that he only dressed vintage occasionally, but over the years the situation has completely reversed, with vintage influences now finding their way into almost everything he wears.
What first attracted you to vintage fashion?
Andrew credits his wife with introducing him to vintage style. As they attended more vintage events together, he began expanding his own wardrobe and soon developed a passion for menswear from the 1930s through to the 1950s.
How would you describe your style?
Andrew's favourite era spans the 1930s to the 1950s. He particularly enjoys smart daywear, often favouring tweed jackets and ties, but his collection now covers everything from casual outfits to business attire, black tie and even full white tie.
Where do you find outfit inspiration?
His inspiration comes from classic films, vintage fashion books, fellow enthusiasts and trusted reproduction clothing makers. Drawing ideas from a variety of sources has helped him build a wardrobe that's both authentic and uniquely his own.
What's your favourite part of vintage events?
For Andrew, one of the greatest attractions of events like Twinwood is the sense of community.
"One of the biggest draws, other than a chance to throw on your best vintage, is the social scene. You meet so many old friends and make quite a few new ones."
Andrew's Top Tip For Mr Vintage UK 2026
Andrew shared three pieces of advice for this year's entrants. Choose a strong entry photograph that really stands out, encourage friends and family to support your entry during the public vote, and if you make it through to the live final, don't be afraid to wear a different outfit, especially one with an interesting story behind it. Above all, remember to enjoy yourself!
"I've made it to the last three finals and had an absolute blast."
For Andrew, the competition is about much more than winning. It's an opportunity to celebrate vintage style, make lasting friendships and become part of the wonderful Twinwood community.
Malcolm Yale - Winner!
What first attracted you to vintage fashion?
My dad was my inspiration, he was ALWAYS very smart. He has his own business as a furniture remover but was very hands on. Him and my uncle would be dressed to death always in tweed shifting people's furniture. While my mates were growing up listening to T Rex, Slade and Sweet, I was listening to 78's of Al Bowlly, Glen Miller and Jack Hilton, and watching Sunday Matinees... James Stewart, James Cagney, Cary Grant. I even love the style of the Ubiquitous English Cad, Terry Thomas!
The clothes were fantastic and manners were impeccable... You can wear the best vintage clothes ever, but if your manners don't match, you're wasting your time. A phrase coined by the saying was the motto of William of Wykeham, a 14th-century bishop and popularised by the recent film, Kingsman, Manners Maketh Man.
How would you describe your style?
My style drifts around between 20s and late 40s. I've never really been into Rock 'n' Roll or 50s stuff but I have been known to occasionally wear a bowling shirt on holiday.
What is it about vintage events that you enjoy the most?
Much to my wife's consternation I am constantly seeking our vintage clothing and accoutrements and usually, at vintage events, we spend more time perusing the stalls than listening to the music. Both me and my wife do dance but don't wear dancewear. Our forebears didn't change into dance shoes to dance, they just danced.
We love vintage events, not for anything particular but for the general feeling of the event. The music, shopping but mainly, the whole look and feel of an event where everyone joins in and wears appropriate garb is very important to us. Switching off our phones is part of our way of immersing ourselves in an event. Paying with cash and whole process of opening up a wallet, vintage of course, not one of those dreadful affairs which folds the money and gets stuffed in a back pocket of jeans.
Do you have any insider tips for anyone entering the Mr Vintage UK competition this year?
With regards to Mr Vintage UK, people has been suggesting I enter for a whole, with one particular friend, Ian giving me loads of encouragement over the last six months. Tips for contestants would be to do the research on the clothing you're going to wear. Most of the clothing that I own has a story. Not just what I wore on stage, 95% of my wardrobe. They ARE vintage and have a life before they come to me. I might check the dating on them, they may have a tailor's label. You will be asked by Lola and Dusty to go through your outfit. It's always easier to answer if you show a passion and commitment to what you're wearing.
Take several photos of several outfits and really think about the detail. Not just in the outfit, but in the whole framing of the photo, what's in the background etc. Be as natural as you can in the photo, don't just stare at the camera. The first round is a public vote on Facebook. If you don't have an account, get one and share your photo with your friends and ask them and their friends for support. Pick the best photo, even ask others for their opinion. Think about what you're writing in your bio. Your photo is to grab attention and your bio will hold the viewer. It IS a competition but ALWAYS be respectful to other chaps in the competition.
Every one of last year's finalists shared something slightly different, but their advice all pointed in the same direction. Be yourself. Choose an outfit you genuinely love. Take the time to learn about what you're wearing. Think carefully about your entry photograph and, above all, enjoy every moment of the experience. Mr Vintage UK is an opportunity to celebrate the era that inspires you while becoming part of one of Twinwood Festival's most cherished traditions.
If you're attending Twinwood Festival this year, be sure to visit the Revival Vintage stand. We'd love to chat about vintage style, help you find those all important finishing touches and cheer on everyone taking part in this year's competition. You'll find us just outside The Century Club, where the Mr Vintage UK final takes place! If you need any style inspiration, our men's ready-to-wear collection offers effortless outfit building, with a whole host of sharp 1940s and 50s looks.
Good luck to everyone entering Mr Vintage UK 2026. We can't wait to see the incredible outfits, fascinating stories and unmistakable vintage character that this year's competitors will bring to the stage!
