Black Velvet

Charity shopping. 

You just never know what you'll find, and it's the unpredictability that I love.

The RSPCA shop in town isn't that great; in fact, I've never found anything worth buying in there before. But it pays to persevere, because I discovered this vintage velvet jumpsuit nestling among the dejected Bon Marche and Primark cast-offs. 

Thirties glamour? I can do that.

I've been faffing about looking at images of vintage jumpsuits on the internet in an effort to date this one. My immediate thought was that it is pure 1980s; the slashed/off the shoulder neckline and blingy gold rib, buttons and buckle seem to speak of that decade.

However, the flared legs, stretch velvet fabric and definite referencing of the 1930s lead me to suspect it might be a late Seventies piece.

I love this 1970s photo of Farrah Fawcett wearing Halston. 

  

1970s Canadian-made Joseph Ribkoff velvet jumpsuit, 1960s turban, sandals, brooch and bangles - charity shopped

Necklace - gift from Vix

 I know, I know - it doesn't matter, but I enjoy being a dating pedant, can't help myself. 

What do you think? 1970s or 80s? Turn-on or write-off?

Bowie certainly loved the drama of a catsuit...

and Seventies Elvis is synonymous with a white jumpsuit.

And if it's good enough for the King, it's good enough for me.

Black velvet with that slow southern style...

I'll be taking my turban to Judith's Hat Attack.

Three posts featuring black clothes? Whatever's up with me? Expect colour in my next post!

 xxx

One post, three decades

Dresses might be my True Loves when it comes to clothes, but I do like to ring the changes now and again.

 And I can't be tied down to one era's style either - look at me, all over the place from the 1960s to the 80s. 

I'm just a decade whore.

1960s C&A jacket, wide-legged trousers and 1960-70s crochet bag - charity shopped

Sandals - retail (sale)

Bangle - gift from Fiona

Necklace - gift from Vix 

I didn't know what to wear with this mad 1960s striped jacket until I spotted these pink flares in a charity shop. 

I'm channeling Brian Jones. 

Groovy.

1970s-style jumpsuit, fringed floral jacket, 1960s Prova leather bag, 1960-70s steel pendant, sandals, bangle and belt - 

all charity shopped

I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I had all but forgotten this jumpsuit. The fringed jacket is a new acquisition, and the two seemed destined to be together, in a Stevie Nicks goes to Studio 54 sort of way.

A little bit Halston...

and a little bit hippy.

 1980s C&A silk culotte dress - Ebay

Bangles - charity shopped

Sandals - retail (sale)

Jess - on the prowl in the sunshine

I placed a Ebay bid for this 1980s silk culotte dress on a total whim, and when I won the auction (for a mere 99p), I wasn't really expecting much. 

Imagine my surprise - I really like it, and it's been perfect for some rather warm working days of carrying and sorting bags of donations and using the steamer. 

It's very nearly the end of term, and also the end of Owen's time at primary school. He assures me he isn't going to cry on Friday, and I can't think that I will either (unlike many parents). 

It's time for him to move on, and he's more than ready.

Here he is, complete with genuine 1940s gas mask box, playing an evacuee in the Y6 performance of Archibald's War. He may look miserable, but that's because he's acting, dahling.

Don't let the gorgeous blooms fool you - the garden is in dire need of watering, but I'm knackered and off to bed.

Night night! 

xxx

Is it normal...

to go out in your pyjamas, young lady?

A man shouted this at me today. Mind you, he was standing outside a pub with a drink in his hand at the time, and I suspect he'd probably been there a while.

He was wrong on all counts - I'm neither young, nor a lady, and this jumpsuit certainly isn't intended as nightwear. 

As to whether my dress sense is normal - well, who cares?

I made the jumpsuit from a vintage sheet and this 1967 pattern. 

It was surprisingly straightforward, although I had to take it in significantly and adjust the placement of the bust darts. As a piece of sewing, I'm really pleased with it; it's a great fit, the sleeves and zip are the neatest I have ever achieved, but I do wish I'd had a go at matching up the print.

Ah well - maybe next time.

Jumpsuit - surprisingly well-made by me

Hair flower, chain belt, bangles and platform sandals - charity shopped

Joanne, Sue and I were out this morning taking photos of statues for a project Sue is working on. Of course we fitted in a coffee and plenty of chat along the way.

We found war memorials in Dore and Gleadless;

a squat and grim-faced Queen Vic in Endcliffe Park;

The Spirit of the Woods and his accompanying imps and woodland creatures in the Botanical Gardens;

and the handsome yet rather sad bear in the Bear Pit.

There's Sue re-enacting a scene from Blow-Up.

He didn't seem to mind, he's used to the attention.

So that was a good start the week, unsolicited wardrobe commentary from a pissed-up stranger apart...

Hmm, what ridiculously abnormal item of clothing shall I make next? 

Taking my PJs over to Patti's for Visible Monday!

xxx

Black and white and red all over

 

I love colour - you all know that. 

But I can appreciate the drama of monochrome too, so Saturday saw me wearing nothing but black and white. Oh and a splash of silver.

 

1970s white faux fur coat, Wallis dress, lurex leggings, vintage silver gloves, 1960s tapestry bag, and sequin beret - charity shopped

Boots - retail (sale, ancient)

  Off we go to town...

 

on a girls' shopping trip...

 

 to H&M...

Claudia had a gift card (Christmas present) burning a hole in her pocket.

 

She's on a black and white kick too. She really wanted a bright blue jumper, but there wasn't one to be found in H&M. Lots of black, white, grey, some mustard and red, but the Fashion Powers That Be seem to have decreed that blue is not in. 

 

I was decidedly unimpressed by the clothes (and may have expressed that view loudly enough to be shushed by my offspring), but Claudia enjoyed getting to choose something from a proper shop, just for a change. 

 

 

Nina and I entertained ourselves while we waited outside the changing room.

 

Mirror mirror, on the wall...

The purchases - striped top, patterned jeans (half price), pack of socks, and a floral hairband.

(I'm not linking, cos I do not love.)

 

Clothing bought, we headed off for lunch...

 

 

and I had to explain why this made me laugh quite so much.

 

Who's he? asked my girls... 

 

Chip off the black'n'white block.

 

But today...

 

 

I thought it was time to add some colour, and try out this rather flamboyant new-to-me 1970s blouse, a gift from Marie of The Queen's Drawers (linking cos I do love.)

1970s pussy-bow blouse - gift from Marie

Jumpsuit, ankle boots, beret and belt - charity shopped

Vintage faux fur collar - gift from Sarah Misfit

 

This outfit comes in at under a tenner. Including shoes.

 

And I like that a whole lot more than shopping on the high street.

I'll be joining Visible Monday over at Patti's as usual. 

Nothing says visible like a vintage lipstick-red pussy-bow, sequins and some faux fur!

 

PS. Guess what? I found my purple glove, a little grubby and utterly sodden, lying on the pavement just up the road.  I am ridiculously pleased!

 

xxx

Jump to the beat

I do like a relaxing weekend, with not much on the agenda apart from going out for tea on Friday, and the winter ritual of trashy Saturday night TV.

And this was an easy-going sort of outfit to match the lazy weekend vibe.

I've almost given up on ever finding a vintage jumpsuit that fits me. 

I have tried on several, but they are always too short in the body (I am long-waisted), tight on the thighs (which doesn't flatter), and of insufficient length in the leg.

So for the time being, I am contenting myself with modern versions; this one was just £1.49. Yes, the local Barnardo's came up trumps again.

(I say almost given up, because I tend to the view that if you are patient and keep looking, you will eventually stumble across pretty much anything you are after in a charity shop.)

Got my Burton boots on - they are so comfortable, I suspect they will get a lot of wear. 

Jumpsuit, sequin beret, boots, vintage necklace and bangles - charity shopped

Wrap cardigan - gift from Tania

A very cheap outfit, this one; it comes in at under a tenner.

So far, I have been quite restrained in my purchases from the charity shop where I volunteer, and it seems the things I choose to buy cause some amusement among my fellow workers.

A feather boa is a wardrobe staple, don't you think? That's what I told my colleagues anyway.

The huge brightly coloured 1950s blanket and 1970s duvet cover were both heading for the rag bag, accompanied by the sentiment well, no one's going to want those! before I swooped in to rescue them.

 £1 each (well, 90p actually, I get a 10% discount).

 I was immediately drawn to this young lady, isn't she pretty?

A bit of research (the internet is a wonderful thing) reveals that it is a lithograph (c.1920) of Herta Zuckermann, who was a pupil attending art classes for children and young people run by artist and progressive educator Franz Cizek at the School of Applied Arts in Vienna in the early 20th Century.

There seems to be some debate as to whether this work is by Cizek, or a self-portrait by Zuckermann herself.

Not that it matters, but I'm hoping the latter is true.

On the Way to Church
The Three Kings
A Christmas Feast

These works are definitely Zuckermann's, included in Christmas: Pictures by Children (1922).

 I wasn't even sure how a lithograph is produced, but there is a good description here.

Charity shopping isn't just thrifty, it's educational.

And lest you worry that I will overspend, here is a selection of the items I have sold over the last few weeks on Ebay to fund my shopping.

The alternative to flogging my guts out for Debenhams is going well. 

 I wonder what we were all looking at?

Hope you all had a great weekend!

xxxx