Oops, I did it again

My name's Curtise... 

and I have a faux fur addiction.

See?

 

 

When I spotted this 1970s St Michael fake fur jacket in a charity shop, my first thought was ooh, I don't have one that colour, quickly followed by a glance at the price tag, a try on, and a brisk walk to the till.

 

(In my defense, I've just sold one I rarely wore, which clearly created a vacuum. And I intend to sell the mid-length black coat, once I've repaired the lining. Do I protest too much?)

 

 

 

This is the 1970s shirtwaister from my charity shop haul last week.

I'm hoping I remind dear Beate of her chic Granny.

 

And this dress caught my eye at Sunday's local vintage market. 

 

Of course it did.

It's good to see the Abbeydale Picture House being used; the event was bigger and busier than last year. 

 

Look what Nina persuaded me to buy. An aged one-eared donkey. 

 

She felt sorry for him, and to tell the truth, so did I. Honestly, this will ruin my hard-faced reputation; don't tell anyone. 

 

 

1970s Jersey Masters dress - charity shopped

1980s boots - Second to None, Walsall 

 

That print and the lovely buttons are clearly Art Deco-inspired, which is so typical of much early/mid 1970s fashion.

1970s English Lady dress - vintage market

Boots - retail

1950s carpet bag and 1960s copper leaf brooch - flea market

Bangles and 1970s stainless steel pendant - charity shopped (although I think Vix might have given me the black and gold bangle... Oh no, I can't remember!)

Leather gloves - retail (sale)

 

I love all the textures and warm colours; the dress is a fuzzy brushed nylon, it's like wearing a 1970s highly flammable blanket.

Do you think I should shorten it? I'm thinking I will. If I get round to it...

 

What's next? 

 

Charity shop day tomorrow (thank you for all your thoughtful comments on my last post), celebrating my mate Sue's birthday with a curry and a quiz, a PTA meeting, my usual stint in school, finishing off the Christmas shopping and knuckling down to writing the cards. 

Steady on, I almost sound organised! 

 

xxx

Making your mind up

I'm usually a fairly decisive person.

I'm not a ditherer, a waverer, or a fence-sitter.

I don't fanny about.

I hope I do think carefully about the stuff which is important, but the insignificant decisions around the edges? A rule of thumb to assess whether something is worth sweating over is to ask myself the question, am I going to be worrying about this in a week/month/year from now?

No? Then it's time to get my head out of my arse and stop wittling*

So, with that in mind, I am approaching my current pruning of the wardrobe with a hardened heart and a sensible head.

When in doubt - try it out.

These two 1970s dresses were on my make your mind up pile.

In true X Factor judge style, I have made my decision.

 

One stays, one goes.

 

 

That's my decision-making face. Don't mess with me when I've got that face on.

 

Blogging is a useful tool for me when it comes to deciding whether an item of clothing has earned its wardrobe space. Looking at photos makes it easier to see myself with a more objective eye.

And I spy with my objective eye an unflattering dress. It's not that I don't like the print (I do) and the colours (I do), I just don't like the shape on me. It's got that empire line maternity wear look about it, and lacks the waist definition which suits me best.

 

Don't look so sad - it's only a frock. Back to Ebay with it, from whence it came.

 

I look much more streamlined with a waist. 

 

This polka-dot dress isn't showy or colourful, but I really like the shape, and with a bright cardigan and tights and a funky faux fur, I can jazz it up through autumn/winter.

 

1970s St Michael pussy-bow dress, denim jacket, 1970s shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Fishnets and belt - retail

1960s tapestry bag - vintage shop in Birmingham (bought on a bloggers' day out)

 

Faffing with my pussy bow, while pulling another daft face. I have quite the repertoire, just ask my kids.

Ooh, 1970s patent leather, round toes, stack heels and slingbacks - does a shoe get any better? And bought from a charity shop too, bonus.

 

The two Midwinter mugs are Jessie Tait's Spanish Garden design, very popular in the 1960s. And still very popular with me, I have a few pieces, and spotted these at a local vintage market on Sunday. I was restrained; I only bought the mugs and the 1960-70s duvet cover behind them, a huge spend of £3 all told.

The cat and the flowers, I already own, and the raindrops came for free. 

My plan is this; to sell sell sell as much clothing as I can between now and Christmas, thereby avoiding the selling of my soul to the retail monster that is Meadowhall. Working at Debenhams as a Christmas temp last year was OK, but I reckon I can make the same money through my own sales, without standing at tram stops in the rain late at night and having to work on Boxing Day.

I might have a stall at our school Christmas fair selling some vintage homewares, knick-knacks, linens, and accessories too. We will see whether the local community shares my love of retro tat, and is prepared to buy it off me!

 

Wish me luck!

 

*Wittling is a northern dialect word for worrying, fretting. Not to be confused with whittling. Although there is clearly a metaphoric connection.)

xxxx

On the Therapeutic Benefits of Charity Shopping (and Blogging)

Oh, you delicious people have made me feel so much better!

Thank you for your supportive comments, and for sharing your tales of the unexpected twists and turns which life can take. I appreciate them, and you.

Having indulged in a whinge and a wallow, I shook myself and did the right thing - I went charity shopping.

 

 My darling friend Vix, always a voice of sound reason and good humour, reminded us in her current post that there are still vintage bargains to be found in the UK's charity shops.

 

She's right.

 

Three fabulous 1970s dresses - the first two are destined for Ebay, but the maxi with the splashy print is staying home with me. 

 

1960s vanity case; 1960s Warmco wool blanket; 1970s St. Michael top; and a large wicker basket. 

 

Those old St. Michael labels transport me back in time - I am pretty sure I had a top just like this when I was a teenager. 

 

Sadly, a 1970s size 14 doesn't fit me, but it's perfect for Eldest, she's perfectly happy for me to buy her clothes from charity shops. That's my girl!

I found this retro 1970s-style shirt dress last week - it's not vintage, but I liked the print and it was only £3.50.

 

And the denim jacket is definitely my Wardrobe Workhorse.  

 

Lynne is doing a series of posts on her excellent blog highlighting hard-working pieces which we wear to death. Once the weather is warm enough for me to ditch my winter coats, this is my go-to, goes-with-everything jacket.

Look - a grumpy-looking bird which isn't me, how refreshing...

 

 

Showing off my self-made tote bag - it's proving to be very useful, I can fit a whole heap of crap in there!

 

I think that's my smug I made a tote bag face. 

 

 

Denim jacket, shirt dress, cardigan, bangles, 1960s flower brooch, belt and tights - charity shopped

1960-70s steel pendant - Ebay

Shoes - jumble sale 

 

I'm linking up my charity shop finds with South Yorkshire escapee Max, feel free to join in. 

And thank you again for listening and letting me complain a little, and for getting it and being kind.

 

It means a lot. 

 

  xxxx 

That funny woman next door is flashing her petticoat again...

After the black and grey comes a much needed blast of colour!

It's pretty mild here at the moment, so although I wore a coat to go out and about this morning, I wasn't freezing while posing in the garden wearing this 1970s dress with its fabulous fluttery angel sleeves.

Now that is a miserable little petticoat flash.

 I look rather unhappy about it.


Let's see how it should be done!

That's my mate Shelley, working the frills!

Check her out here, if you don't already know her - she's great!

Still a bit half-hearted...


In my defence, my neighbours are having their roof repaired, and I was slightly inhibited by the roofers on the scaffolding overlooking my garden, and witnessing my photo shoot.


I need not to give a shit!

1970s dress and boots - Ebay

Necklaces, bangles and leather belt - charity shopped

I felt the need for bright vibrant colour yesterday too. It was so dark and gloomy, the photos are awful.

It was about 12.30 in the afternoon when I took them.

1970s St. Michael skirt, jersey top, gold leather belt and bangles - charity shopped

Necklace - Christmas present

Same boots!

Sometimes I feel as though my assigned role with my neighbours is worthy of a 1970s sitcom.

The daft comedy character next door, always in a scrape, always talking, chaotic and noisy, ready with a double entendre and a laugh at all times.

My neighbours do think I am a bit odd.

  

They're not entirely wrong.

But I am a more rounded character than that...


Do you ever feel you have strayed into someone else's script and become typecast?

Surely it's not just me!

xxx