Saturday 21 July 2012

Downtown

It wasn't exactly scorching, but at least the sun shone today for the Tramlines festival in Sheffield.

It's a free festival with various stages and venues around town.

I wore;



this 1960s Designed for California by Tom Jones of Mayfair maxi dress, last seen here.


Along with charity-shopped bangles aplenty, Art Company wedges, and sunnies from everyone's favourite freaky catwalk model Sarah.


The girls and I caught snippets of music as we wandered around, but we headed for the City Hall, where there was a vintage fair.


I looked like crap in the turbans but the girlies were rocking them!


I bought;


A 1960s Hawaiian maxi dress (£5) and a 1980s vinyl bucket bag (£1).

I really wanted;




That dress was so pretty and fit me perfectly, but I couldn't afford the £30 price tag.

I was dithering, and almost caved (it was gorgeous) but the seller put me off by saying how cheap the price was, and she could get double that amount at other fairs, and didn't I realise what 1950s dresses go for on Ebay?

Well, yes, I appreciate all of that. Her price was her price, and that's fine. But I'm not very good at being lectured, so I politely said I would have to love it and leave it, since I didn't have £30.

 I wonder if it sold?


Gorgeous pillars and light fittings in the City Hall ballroom. And gorgeous ever-so-slightly cross-eyed me, ha!



Mes filles.



The famous-in-Sheffield 1950s Muffin the Mule ride in Atkinson's shop - still only 2p a go!




Ooh, snooty bitch face!




Tomorrow, we are off to stay with my eldest sister and her family for a few days. 

See you when I get back!

 xxx



36 comments:

Trees said...

What a beautiful frock - looks great.

That vintage vendor sounds SO ANNOYING! We have a couple of vintage shops here like that, too cool for school - I don't like going to their vintage shops - at times if I found something I really loved I may be willing to pay their price - but being a good shopkeeper is all about attitude ie: not scaring the customers away!

I love the photo of your two girls in the turbans - so cute!

Penny-Rose said...

Looks like you and your family had a great day - the girls are very cute. Muffin the Mule brought back a few memories, but I can't believe that it only costs 2p a ride. Do pennies still exist???? In NZ 10 cents is the smallest coin and similar rides cost $1 or $2!!! Hope you have a great day with your sister,

thorne garnet said...

Too bad about the vender. I truly do not like being told what someone can get for something on ebay.It happens around here at yard sales, I put the items down and leave. "I can sell that on ebay for $$". Then sell it on ebay. The girls look cute rocking those turbans

Stacey said...

Ooooo, I love this colourful frock! You look stunning, and the girls look gorgeous in those turbans! I really hate it when a seller tries to pressure me into buying something because they could get more for it on eBay. A vintage fair or a garage sale is not eBay, so they sellers need to adjust their expectations of pricing accordingly!

Anonymous said...

You always find specially delicious frocks! The fabric reminds me of Peter Max from my monitor on my little laptop. It's gorgeous.
Your girls do look so cute in the turbans. I've tried them on a few times and I always end up looking like Mommy Dearest with cancer. haha

Anonymous said...

Resisting the urge to hit play on Downtown as the tune will be stuck in my head. Love the turbans on the girls. I say the dress was overpriced and predict that YOU shall have another encounter with the seller! You look marvelous for your outing.

Vintage Bird Girl said...

Great frock my maxi Queen. I love the fit on you & the amazing print. I too baulk at paying too much for vintage, even though I'm sure it's worth it, it's hard to pay those prices after op shopping. I hope you have a lovely time away. Xx

Unknown said...

OMG you are officially the maxi queen of the universe! You look absolutely gorgeous in this fab frock -I love the colours and print and the double hair flowers. Those filles are magnificent in their turbans and I have walked away from more than one frock being spruiked by a douche bag seller - it's only a frock, there are plenty more! Have a fabulous few days with your sister - missing you already! Love you more than sunshine! Sarah xxx

The Small Fabric Of My Life said...

Lovely dress. I am sure you did the right hing about the blue dress and if it's meant for you it will come back to you somehow.

Lou said...

Shame about the frock, but £30 is a lot to me too! If sellers think they can get more for it, why don't they take it elsewhere then?! Gah! Hehe love the girls in their turbans! x

Melanie said...

Don't you look nifty! I almost got a maxi the other day but wasn't sure how 'me' it was and I also didn't have the money, which was a big factor!

The Goodwill Fangirl said...

You look super rich and snotty in that one shot :P I love, love, love all the bangles, and the coordinating flower in your hair.

I'm terrible at converting pounds to U.S. dollars but that does sound like rather a lot for a frock. And it was way too pricey to come with an attitude.

Your daughters are so lovely. I have to admit some of my favorite moments are spent with my girls.

P.S. Love the items you sent Desiree. You have a great eye for just the right thing, and I can't wait to see her wear them.

P.P.S. Still obsessing over the tattoo thing. Not afraid to have it done - it's picking the art and the location that is puzzling me. Darn that day job...lol.

Louise Mc said...

Oh dear, I wonnder if that seller realised at any point that she taled herself out of a sale. People like that do annoy me. I love your bright maxi, and I have one of those turbans in black, I love it. X

Vix said...

Tom Jones's frock is sublime, it's totally amazing and makes my eyes hurt with jealousy. Loving the double hair flowers and the girls rocking the turbans like the cool hipster that they are.
I hate being told how much stuff is on eBay...if you can get that much why the hell are they bothering to sell it for half the price on a stall? I'd have done the same, hope you see her next year and she's still trying to flock the frock!
The city hall ballroom is stunning, a perfect location for your gorgeousness! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

VAL said...

I am all for people making a good living, but I wonder what sort of mark up she had put on that dress. Even if I had the £30 I wouldnt have paid it to someone so pushy. Have a nice trip with your sister.
PS love the turban kids lol
V
xxx

Mrs. D said...

That dress you were wearing is amazing, looks like you had a great time (minus the vendor). I hate it when people say things like that - at the flea market back home I used to flee from vendors who would reply 'this is very old' when asked for the price LOL.
The girls look so cute with the turbans on, it made me smile :)

Helga said...

Jeez,those gals of your ARE rocking those turbans!! I so wish I could!!!
Looking fecking fabulous darl,I adore the colours in that frock,and the flowers finish it off nicely!! I reckon Muffin would have enjoyed being ridden on you you....
I suppose 30 quid is reasonable enough,but not when you just don't have it spare!!! WhatEVER! Pushyness puts me off,even if I'd had the money,I suspect I wouldn't have bought it out of spite!!!

MWAH!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ivy Black said...

You look stunning and I'm glad you all had a lovely day and snapped up some bargains.
I know, pushy vintage sellers are the worst. I never buy anything of anyone who tries to force it on me. To be honest, you'd be hard pressed to sell vintage for £30 and over on eBay at the moment. It's line they all trot out. No, it didn't sell!
Have a wonderful week.
x

two squirrels said...

Oh I do love that frock on you!!!!! Just gorgeous.
I so hate when someone devalues the experience of buying vintage by giving a bloody lesson in what a great buy you would be getting.
I would have not brought it either. Take the $30 and spend it where it's a pleasure.
I hope you have had a wonderful weekend Miss Curtise.
Love v

Miss Simmonds Says said...

Is this the sister in Winslow cos I imagine that end of the country is looking pretty good and if you are - how about a trip to Hughenden manor tomorrow?! :P

Stunning dress! It looks fantastic on you, you're allowed to do a snooty bitch face when you look that good.

Love the turbans! They look great. Oh and that seller is talking shite, you can definitely get 50s dresses on ebay cheaper than £30.

Kitty said...

Fab colourful outfit for a wee festival, yay for you!! Have fun at your sisters, all too soon the time passes, enjoy it my love.xx.

Krista said...

This looks like such a fun day out and I think you wore the most spectacular dress! The girls look precious in their turbans, they really have the best smiles, happy kids for sure. I don't blame you for putting back the 50's frock, that woman sounds full on annoying and I bet she wishes she would have given you a better deal and sold it. Maybe she will live and learn. I love a Hawaiian dress and I can't wait to see you rock this one. Have fun at your sisters!
XXOO
Krista

Lakota [Faith Hope and Charity Shopping] said...

How cute are the girls in the turbans? I love it. Sorry about the dress that wasn't to be but you do have two lovely purchases to make up for it. Enjoy your break - we saw the Olympic torch today so I'm feeling like virtuous Mum who does interesting things with offpsring - tomorrow will involve kicking them in the garden and blogging!
xx

Forest City Fashionista said...

That is the perfect Summer Festival dress! The girls are so fab in their turbans - I look like I should be in some sort of nursing home if I put one on. Looove the Hawaiian dress; sorry about the left behind one, but really, I can't stand when people selling secondhand stuff tell you that you are lucky to get it at that price because they could be charging so much more. I would think if you had a customer who wanted it,you would be willing to negotiate as it's better to have $20 than a dress sitting around.

Anonymous said...

You look amazing in that dress, Curtise, and I'm so glad to hear the weather's improved in your part of the world. I like the snooty bitch look. When I do that face on my blog, I call it my Victoria Beckham look, teehee. Have fun at your sista's!

karensomethingorother said...

Looking forward to seeing you in your new Hawaiian dress! The girlies looked so cute in their turbans. I can imagine you looking good in one though, Curtise, even though you said you didn't.

Kaffesoester said...

You look fantastic in this maxi, with all the delicious accessories! So great to finally have some decent summer weather and being able to wear our summer dresses!

£30 seems a lot in comparison to what you've paid for other vintage dresses - would she have listened if you had tried to tell her that?

Your girls are super cute with the turbans - which I wish I could wear, but my head shape looks very odd when I put one on!

The Style Crone said...

Beautiful and colorful maxi! And I'm sure that you will make the Hawaiian maxi shine as well. Love the turbans on your daughters - one of my favorite looks and they pull it off with aplomb.

Vintage Sweetheart said...

That pattern seriously blows my mind!!!! Another perfect maxi. I adore the hawaiian frock to. I hope you get some sun so you can wear it. x

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa said...

I sell vintage and I almost did the tramlines festival.. I would have been a lot more purse friendly for you ;) The seller sounds like an arse! I always reduce my prices for fairs, no need to moan to your customers about it. However, I have had it on me the other way round, when a girl ran off with my 50s lace prom dress for ages, then when I told her the price, she said it was ridiculous and it was only worth about half of that! Pffft haha XO.

Dawn said...

Your kids in those turbans is too cute. I totally want one. Love your dress, the print is wildly wonderful. Have a great time at your sister's house, it's always nice to spend time with family that you like..lol! dawn suitcase vignettes xo

Jean at www.drossintogold.com said...

Good for you!! I'm glad you didn't buy the dress. You look gorgeous in the one you wore and the girls are adorable. Enjoy this time!

his_girl_friday said...

What an amazing dress! The print is fantastic.

Fiona said...

Gotta tell you I lurve that frock on you Curtise, the colours are superb. The LB's are the business in the turbans and how about a ride on Muffin for just 2p!! Glad the pushy cow didn't sell her frock, "can get double that at other fairs" yeah right, why don't you then ?
Love you more than Pet Clark!

Maureen said...

Oh my, I can't believe how CHEAP your vintage sales are. £30 is such good value and your £5 for a 60s dress!!!!

Here on the south coast we pay SO much more. But we do all love living here.

doradadama said...

Oh my !!!you are rockin the bright blue shades, do bring out your eyes amor.love the double flowers.
Your sweeties look wonderful in turbans,always full of smiles.I think you would look good in a turban.
I hate sellers that lecture about how much stuff is worth and how it is vintage.her lost. You will find another fab dress amor.
Just look at that Hawaiian gorgeous dress you found for£5 thats a deal. I been dreaming of Hwaiian dresses all week.
Besotes