All dressed up with somewhere to go

Any of you who have followed my blog for a while will know that I am far from a domestic goddess.

I cook pretty well, feed the family perfectly respectable meals, and deal with the 

mountain of washing and ironing generated by a household of five in reasonably efficient form.

But cleaning... No, I am not good at cleaning. 

Housework is a pointless, thankless chore which I avoid as much as possible, until the cat hair and crumb levels threaten to overwhelm us, and the appearance of unscheduled visitors has me hanging my head in shame and refusing to answer the front door.

 

And I don't remember where I put things. I am not good at that kind of efficient household organisation either, we constantly seem to swim along at the outer edges of a chaotic whirlpool of randomness.

 

Unnecessary vintage glamour - that is something I am good at. 

 

I had a mini tidy up today (yes, visitors were scheduled) and this seemed as good an outfit as any.

 

 

 

 

1970s angel sleeve maxi dress - Ebay (£1)

Sequin top - jumble sale (25p)

Sunglasses, gold leather belt and shoes - charity shopped (50p, £1 and £5 respectively)

1950s carpet bag - flea market (£15 - blew the budget...)

Frida pendant - handmade gift from darling Tamera (we are all sending love to Miss KaeKae)

 

 

A pretty cheap outfit then (apart from the bag). 

 

Ridiculously inappropriate for shopping at Lidl and then hoovering, but never mind.

 

During my mammoth clothes-putting-away session, I found myself left with these;

22, yes, 22 odd socks. All kids'. A range of sizes. All in want of a partner.

How does this happen? Where are the other 22 socks? I know I am untidy and inefficient and domestically challenged, but seriously - where could they be? 

Anyone know? If you do, you must be a genius, it's a total mystery to me.

 

I had to go into the garden and take some photos to soothe my puzzled and irritated mood. 

 

 

 

 

 

Something else which will improve my mood immensely is another blogger meet up.

 

I know, two in five days - hurray!

Anyone in Walsall tomorrow - look out for this posse of poncho honchos!

 

 

 

 

I am looking forward to it so much, I fear I may explode with excitement.

What will you be doing tomorrow? Whatever it is, we will raise a glass to you in Wetherspoons, I'm sure!

xxxx

Good Day Sunshine

 

Got a bit of a 60s thing going on today.

 

 

I've Warholed myself.

 

 

The inspiration was this fabulous 1960s dress...

 

 

 

...which was a gift from my lovely blogger friend Sara (Mrs D of Hello the Mushroom).

She came to Sheffield yesterday for several hours of vintage and charity shopping, chatting, strolling round the city centre in the sunshine, and a glass or two of wine!

If you don't already know Sara's blog, check it out. She's a fabulous photographer, and she has put some photos from our day together on Flickr.

Isn't she lovely? A delightful combination of sassy style, intelligence, humour and friendliness.

Portugal's loss is the UK's gain.

And a demon shopper - Sara scored some great finds.

 

She'll show you her's- I'll show you mine.

 

A 1960s Sid Greene lurex dress, in the same fabric as my favourite mermaid skirt, but this time in shades of gold and bronze;

and a (probably) 1980s German dirndl skirt - the label says made in West Germany so it must be pre-1989. The little metal tag at the top says Kuhnen Dirndl.

Sara said buy it buy it buy it about 20 times when I picked it up in the charity shop - so I did!

 

1960s dress - gift from sweetheart Sara

Denim jacket, bangles, tights and shoes - charity shopped

Huge white sunglasses - gift from darling Helga

 

 

 

 

When I looked through today's photos, I had to laugh - I think I look very similar to my eldest sister in this photo from 1969;

We were by Regent's Park canal at London Zoo, my eldest sister was 14, and clearly none to pleased to be picnicking with the small fry. We have matching pouts - I don't know what my problem was.

Middle sister (age 9) and I (age 5) were wearing matching mini dresses, they were an orange floral print with a high neck and puffy sleeves. I loved that dress.

 

 

 

 

Are you seeing it?

 

Having a face like a slapped arse seems to run in the family.

 

 

But I am very happy with my new frock - thank you Sara!

 

 

 

I am also happy to find myself here, along with all you other Odd Ones Out, freaks and misfits.  

 

And I am very happy to recommend blogger meet-ups - in real life, like Sara's visit, or a virtual get-together, like the weekly gathering over at Patti's on Visible Mondays!

      xxxxx

Le Freak, c'est chic

This wonderful 1970s Droopy and Browns dress might not be entirely weather-appropriate, but I was warm enough with the addition of a trusty faux fur coat and gloves.

I thought about wearing it to the 70s party last weekend, but decided more colour was required for that occasion.

I also thought I might sell it on Ebay, but now I've worn it, I've decided it's definitely a keeper.

 

It has pockets. And the original tie belt.

 

It's completely see-through, so a vintage slip underneath is necessary.

 

 

 

 

But its floaty, blowing-in-the-wind drapey angel-sleeved gorgeousness just makes me feel...

 

 

 

...like dancing.

Yes Sir, I can boogie.

Excuse the cat's tail sneaking into shot, Jess wanted to dance too. 

 

 

 

 

Ok, so not quite such a glamorous animal companion as Bianca's, but you can't have everything.

 

And l have some really cool friends, look.

 

1970s Droopy and Browns dress, sequin beret, shoes and bangles - charity shopped

1970s beaded peacock bag - Ebay

Flower and necklace - retail (sale)

Speaking of cool friends, have I told you lately that I love you?

'Cause I do.

From time to time, I have an acute sense of myself as Odd One Out in my real life.

It's obvious that I dress differently from a lot of people I know, but it's more than that. 

I do wonder if the differences in my outward appearance are a manifestation of the other ways in which I don't fit in with the prevailing views, the consensus. I find myself amazed that people question so little and accept so much.

Which is why I appreciate my blogging friends, especially those who aren't afraid to have an opinion, to take a risk, to stand out and be visible and original. Those who don't feel the need to hide their intelligence, their confidence and self-esteem for fear of being seen as big-headed.

 

There have been a few incidents lately which have had me asking myself, where do I belong?

And the answer is right here.

 

Thanks, darlings. 

Now freak out!

  xxxx

Spring, sunshine and cotton

A proper Spring day, complete with blue skies and sunshine, requires a proper Spring frock.

This 1970s English-made Mackerness cotton maxi dress will be perfect for summer, but for now, a little cardi cover-up is still necessary.

 

It's an Ebay purchase for 99p; even adding the postage, it still only cost £4. I love the fact that while some items attract ridiculously huge bids, others seem to sneak under the radar, just waiting for me!

1970s cotton maxi dress - Ebay

Mohair tie-front cardigan - flea market

Office black patent leather shoes and bangles - charity shopped

Necklace - gift from my sister

 

It's fitting that I  am wearing a cotton dress today, especially one made in England.

My mum and eldest sister visited yesterday, and we headed into Derbyshire to Cromford Mill, a World Heritage site. 

 

It is the birthplace of the factory system, where Richard Arkwright built the first water-powered cotton spinning mill in 1771. In doing so, he changed cotton manufacture from a cottage industry to a factory-based one, and increased output dramatically to meet the demands of a growing population and export markets.

All that, right on our doorstep, and I had never been before!

 

 

The history of the cotton industry is fascinating, involving as it does imperialism, slavery, the Industrial Revolution, and significant changes in politics, manufacturing and fashion.

 

I love social, cultural and industrial history - can you tell? The kings'n'queens type of history is all well and good, but I find the movements, events and inventions that affected people's everyday lives more interesting.

 

A canal was built to transport the raw cotton from the Liverpool docks to rural Derbyshire, and take the finished product back again for export to the British colonies.

 

 

The kids were imagining how they would feel if they had been mill workers!

 

Children between the ages of 7 and 15 worked 12 hour shifts, 6 days a week, and had 2 days holiday a year. 

 

Arkwright was considered a reasonably enlightened employer by 18th century standards - he built cottages for the families who worked in his mill, and a Sunday school for the children. 

 

So their one day off a week was spent predominantly in church... Bet they loved that, poor little buggers!

Seldom Seen, contemplating his fate, had he been born 200 years earlier; and Littlest with my mum, who has just celebrated her 89th birthday. Peas in a pod, they are (anyone else thinking Don't Look Now is forgiven, I thought so too!)

 

 

And in case you are feeling sorry for the kids, being dragged round sites of significant industrial history and having no fun...

 

 

 

 

...we had been for a lovely lunch in Matlock first, a stroll by the river, and had a play on the little boating lake!

 

That's my sister in the black coat and hat with Littlest - I will have to get some better pics of her sometime, we are quite alike.

 

 

 

 

 

I want to head back to Matlock for a rummage in the chazzas (there are 5 or 6) and the vintage/antique shops. 

But for now, it is perfectly pleasant to potter in the garden with Littlest and the cats, finally enjoying some finer weather.

 

Hope the sun has been shining where you are!

    xxxx

Dancing on a Saturday night

 

I was out enjoying an evening of Babycham aperitifs, retro tunes, Twiglets and vol-au-vents, and of course vintage finery last night, celebrating my mate Vicky's 50th birthday.

A 1970s dress code was never going to be much of a stretch for me, was it? 

 

As Vicky said when I arrived, "it's great to see everyone's made the effort to dress up - and here's Curtise, wearing her normal clothes!"

Clockwise l-r;

That's birthday girl Vicky in her amazing Abba-esque outfit complete with bubble-perm wig, with Benny from Abba (aka her husband Jim) and their son doing a fab Freddie Mercury tribute;

my pals Tracey and Karen;

Terry in his original 70s Starsky cardigan (and Starsky wig) with beautiful Chris;

Claire and Kristina - one blonde is the real deal, one is wearing a wig!

I went with this fabulous orange floral zip-front maxi dress (a gift from darling Sarah) and my 1970s stack-heeled sling back shoes.

The 70s geometric tunic top Karen is wearing was a gift from me.

I should have rented out my wardrobe, I'd have made some cash!

Jim and Diana;

Kaz and Trace (the wig had swapped heads by this time);

Claire's gorgeous son sporting amazing fake sideburns (and check out the guy's snake print suit behind him!);

Zander and Ron.

I am so rubbish at hair - my waves had dropped out by the end of the night.

Yes, drink had been taken...

I had a great night, dancing myself dizzy to the exclusively 70s playlist selected by Vicky.

I had a big old lie-in this morning, I can tell you!

 

 

There's still some snow left on the decking at the end of our garden, but it's been a sunny day today.

 

I was taken by a whim to swap my skirts around in the middle of my photo session.

Don't know if the neighbours spotted me, but they already think I'm bonkers so I don't suppose it matters.

Without the benefit of a mirror, I didn't realise the black skirt wasn't straight. Never mind.

Which looks best?

Vest, cardigan, bangles, pink tights, black patterned tights and flower - charity shopped

Black tulle skirt - flea market (another £1.70 item from the rummage table)

1950-60s pink/black petticoat - vintage fair

Belt - retail (sale)

Shoes - jumble sale

1960s scarf - bought from Vicky's stall at the school Christmas fair last year, it was her mum's

 

 

 

I was working under trying conditions...

I hope you have all had a great weekend. I need a catch up session to find out what's been going on in your lives!

Linking to Patti at Visible Monday, along with all the other beautiful women who join in.

   xxxx