We'd roll and fall in green

I feel a bit like Cathy romping on the moors with Heathcliff in this outfit.

Although maybe the 1980s triangular bag spoils the vibe just a tad...

What do you think? All I need is Lawrence Olivier to complete the look, right?

                              There you go. Dear dear Larry.


The lovely and very talented Lucy said she had found a skirt which she thought was me, but when the parcel arrived, she had not only sent this gorgeous green velvet maxi skirt, which fits me perfectly, but also a little jacket, bangle and brooch. Naughty Lucy! But thank you very much, I love all your gifts.

The jacket almost looks like snakeskin, but it's a knit fabric. Kinda Missoni-esque, what do you reckon?

                           "I pine a lot, I find a lot falls through without you."


I had a good old chazzathon with some friends on Friday, and found a few bargains - some to keep, some destined for Ebay. The best part of the day was the good company and the abundant laughter.

Black sequinned beret (Christmas present from Patsy), 1960s silk scarf (£1, flea market), Gudrun Sjoden black cord jacket (£4.99, charity shop), 1980s Laura Ashley black silk fitted blouse (£2.99, charity shop), 1970s (?) homemade green velvet maxi skirt (gift from Lucy), silver hinged cuff (£3, Brick Lane market), 1980s suede bag (free, won it), black wedge ankle boots (bought full retail price about 15 years ago, pre-kids, when I worked full-time and spent money on myself!)

I had a good Bonfire Night, hope you did too (well, those UK residents who do Bonfire Night, that is!)
I rather liked what I wore, which was a bit Ali McGraw in Love Story, or so I fondly imagined, but of course I didn't take photos to prove it.
I will have to recreate the look on another occasion. I am such a bad Blogger!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The juice of the carrot, the smile of the parrot, a little drop of claret...

Sometimes, you have to find joy in the small things, and though I feel a little beset by worries at the moment - Other Half's job being under threat (public sector, uh oh), Youngest Child's ongoing health problems, money worries, blah blah bloody blah - I am determined not to be a misery.

There are many reasons to be cheerful.

I found this 1960s Salton hot plate, still in its original packaging and in working order, at a recent jumble sale for 50p.

Might be a bit late to send back the guarantee card though...

Then, in a small but satisfying instance of serendipity, I saw this advert in a 1964 Woman's Journal magazine I picked up at Chesterfield flea market. Wonder if I could finish the crossword? Don't need to win the prize though - I've already got one, thanks!

At the same jumble sale, I bought this groovy 1970s chopping board for 20p. It's scrubbed up a treat.

Of course I love finding vintage clothing for myself, but I am also happy to find beautiful bargains which may not fit me but which I can sell on Ebay or give to a smaller friend!

Look at this amazing bright green and gold silk 1960s Acquer cocktail maxi dress. It was £6 in a charity shop.

I confess I do wish it fitted (it's probably a size 10, I most certainly am not) but it makes me smile just looking at it. It's in superb condition.

While we are looking at stripes, what do you reckon to this 80s-tastic suede bag?

You might remember that my girlfriends and I do our local pub quiz from time to time, and since we never win, we amuse ourselves by taking along our own prizes for whichever team member gets the most correct answers.
I won the pot last week, and this beauty was part of the prize! Can you believe they all laughed when I said I loved it? I donated the cleavage enhancers (if you've seen my Hallowe'en costume, you'll know I don't need 'em!) and was happy to give them to an A-cupped pal!

(We actually came second and won some drinks tokens for next time - a good showing for us!)


This 1960s sparkly crimplene number does fit. Doesn't it remind you of the fabulous Helga? A measley £2 spend for pussy bow heaven!

Some while ago now, I commented on the gorgeous Sarah Misfit's blog that I loved this dress, which she was unsure about.

What happened?
The sweetheart sent it to me! Blog buddies are a HUGE reason to be cheerful!

She sent numerous other goodies in her parcel of delight.

Gorgeous 1970s things to make!

And lovely earrings too!
Thank you, Sarah.


Blogging has brought me the joys of wonderful and generous new friendships, as well as involving old buddies from way back. Debberoo is a very dear old friend of mine from school days, who was blogging way back before I even knew what blogging was! And the fact that she pops in and comments on my musings after all these years does my cynical old heart good!
Thanks Debs!


 And back to that 1964 Woman's Journal, which has amused me greatly for the princely spend of 50p.

School run, 1964 style.


And this fabulous advert has given me an idea.

How about we UK girls book on a Lloyd Triestino luxury liner, stop off at Vix's favourite holiday destination, India, then head on to Australia to meet up with all the gorgeous Antipodean bloggers?
It's air conditioned, we can book direct, and it would really make us cheerful!

Woodwork squeaks and out come the freaks

I started yesterday looking pretty respectable in a 70s kind of way.

I found this 1970s Clothkits wraparound skirt in Oxfam for a fiver, and intended to sell it on Ebay since I'm not sure this shape suits me. But I'm giving it a try, as I  love the colour and print. What do you stylistas reckon? Ebay or keep?

Wraparound styles are a dangerous business. Just look what can happen...

Do you think all bloggers who post photos of themselves are essentially exhibitionists?

I would never have said I was, but I'm beginning to wonder!

I'm not particularly fond of Hallowe'en; the imported ritual of trick or treating, and buying a new costume every year for the kids doesn't sit well with me. I know, I'm an old curmudgeon. However, some lovely friends were putting on a little party (as a way of avoiding the dreaded trick or treating) so that seemed like a good plan.

And if you're going to a party, you have to dress up, right?

Of course you do! This fabulous 1970s velvet corset dress was on the fancy dress rail in a local charity shop, also for a fiver. I didn't think I could get into it, so I put it on Ebay but it didn't sell.

With industrial strength foundation garments, determination, and the assistance of Eldest LB on zip duty, I managed to fit in it. Just look what it did to my boobs!

I put a spell on the LBs and turned them into Goth Child, Boy Dracula and Little Witch.

Eldest LB was really in character!

Smallest LB pinched the wig I wanted to wear. My hair was similar to this in the 80s. Same texture too.

So I had to go with a different wig and a jaunty little witch's hat.

How is it that I, an actual woman, have managed to transform myself into a man in drag?
That doesn't seem right.

Answers on a postcard please.
You don't think the eyelashes are too much, do you?

Shall I wear them on the school run?

Dracula Boy did not want a kiss from his Drag Queen Mama. Can't think why not.

Had to let her have the wig, she looked so cute.

Hammer Horror! That's my girl, nothing like a costume to make you ham it up!

Does this mean I'm a Hallowe'en convert?
Not really, I just enjoyed the dressing up!

All costumes were from charity shops, ghoulish accessories were bought super-cheap, and the magnificent Boob Crack is all my own work.
With the help of a too-tight frock, hahahaha!

After the Goldrush

A bright but chilly trip to Chesterfield flea market this morning demanded a bright yet warm outfit.

As I have been doing a lot of colour lately, I decided to try something different - black and gold.

I bought the dress from one of my favourite stalls on the market earlier this year, but thought it was a bit big for me. So I tried, but failed, to sell it on Ebay, and now I am keeping it; with the addition of a belt, it fits fine. It was too nippy to wear it as a sleeveless frock but put a black top underneath and hey presto - sleeves!

Black and gold isn't a combination I do much, I usually go for black and silver, but I like this!


And a girl needs a bit of leopard for company on a cold day.

                              Much side eye at school. Can't think why.

Youngest Child's teacher said I looked like a 70s rock chick dating Mick Jagger. She clearly hasn't seen Vix, who has the Rolling Stones groupie look nailed to perfection!

I think this is more a blend of Bet Lynch-meets-Mad Men, but I'm open to suggestions!

1960s black and gold wool dress and leopard print faux fur jacket (Chesterfield flea market), boots (Ebay), stripey bag with wooden handles (Ebay), belt (charity shop)

                   Assorted charity shopped and market stall bling, and the little cuff was from Vix.




I thought of using Gold Dust Woman as the title of this post, but I'm not really a cocaine-snorting rock chick kind of girl, despite what the teachers at school might imagine...

So I have headed for the calmer waters of a bit of country folk; just love those harmonies. 

And if I ever give up the hair dye, I want my grey hair to look as beautiful as Emmylou Harris'.



     

I went to London, and all I took was one lousy photo...

I don't know what happened, I just got carried away with chatting and eating and drinking and looking and laughing - I completely forgot to take any photos, apart from this one which Patsy took of me in the Moroccan restaurant we went to on Saturday night.

We had a great time; went for sushi and windowshopped in Knightsbridge, visited the V and A museum (sadly the fashion/clothing section, my favourite bit, was closed for refurbishment but the jewellery displays were some consolation) and went to the aforementioned Moroccan restaurant.

Given my uselessness with the photos at the time, it's just as well I had already taken some pics of this dress.

I was planning a post about the Fear of Yellow, as discussed by the wonderful Sarah Misfit here, hence the photos. I bought this dress a while ago because I LOVED the print and the fact that it is a perfect fit, but had been a bit anxious about wearing it. Why? Fear of Yellow, I guess. But if you can't wear a yellow daisy/scallop print dress on a sunny day in London, then when can you?
 

 1960s California maxi dress (Freshman's vintage shop), jewellery and sunglasses (charity shopped, flea market or gifts)


On Sunday, after a leisurely breakfast, we hit Brick Lane, which was heaving but rather wonderful. So many vintage shops, mostly a bit expensive for me, but with some beautiful stock. And so many different types of food on offer, it was hard to choose. I saw the most beautiful 1950s dirndl dress in a pop-up vintage market, which fit me well and was just gorgeous, but at £75 it was way out of my league. I had a little tear in my eye at leaving it behind though.

We loved The Shop on Cheshire Street, an exquisitely presented vintage shop with a stunning array of clothing, accessories, and linens. Gisele Scanlon has some lovely photos of the shop here on her Goddess Guide website.

It was here that Patsy and I worked out a handy little arrangement. She bought me a dress and I bought her a handbag, which is our mutual Christmas present buying done and dusted, and consciences are relieved all round. Aren't we clever?

Here's a sneaky peek at mine. As you can see, I'm rather taken with this orange/mustard/brown/white colour theme at the moment.

I had a nautical moment too.

These were picked up from a street stall.

And this was what I wore (again the photos are from another occasion). This 1970s maxi dress was made by a dressmaker at Ocean Terminus in Kowloon, Hong Kong as part of a cruise collection. 

I bought it from a stall at Chesterfield flea market, the stall holder had bought some other pieces from the collection from the owner herself, but this was the only item she had left. I think I might have loved every piece, and the lady must have been exactly the same size as me because it fits perfectly.

 

The bright print generally draws some side-eye and/or comment. London was no exception, but the comments were all good.

                              At least I was easy for Patsy to spot in the crowd.

 

Even the lovely manager of the hotel we stayed in said he liked my colourful dresses - how sweet is that?

 1970s maxi dress (flea market), denim jacket (charity shop), Moda in Pelle flats (sale 3 years ago)

So I had a ball, I must say a big thank you to my lovely friend Patsy, who I am attempting to convert to the Vintage Way (the bag was just the start), and I can't wait to do it (or something similar) again.