In the time of chimpanzees, I was a monkey

Friday. 

Time for another red frock, I reckon, to perk myself.

 It can't have escaped your attention that an unfortunate loss occurred last night.

No, I don't mean England vs. Uruguay, although that was disappointing enough.

My wonderful friend Vix wasn't chosen as Vintage Personality of the Year at the Vintage Awards, despite having more sass, originality and character in her little finger than a room full of wannabe repro-wearing fame whores.

Annoyed? Me? Whatever gives you that idea?

Ah well, you can't win 'em all.

However, I was surprised to discover that the public vote counted for nothing. 

Yet I am also delighted to note that Vix led that vote from start to finish; and all without TV appearances, a record deal, or endless tweets. That shows who the real winner is here, don't you think?

 You're our Vintage Star, Vix, and always will be!

 Charlie says balls to it.

1970s Shubette dress, cardigan, shoes, sunglasses, belt and bangles - charity shopped

1970s apple pendant - vintage market

1960s tapestry bag - gift from Gisela

Red wooden bangle - gift from Tania

1950s rose brooch - gift from Vanessa

My neighbour told me he needed sunglasses to look at me this morning. 

I happen to think pillar box red, pink and purple are the perfect combination.

...as the rose

Blendeth its odour with the violet, -

Solution sweet...

If it's good enough for my beloved garden and Keats, it's good enough for me. 

The other day, a woman I know paid me a compliment about a dress I was wearing, then said; some of the stuff you wear is... [pulled an appalled face] but that one's actually nice.

What would you have said?

I chose to laugh, while privately thinking that everything she wears is [pulls an appalled face]. I'm also choosing to share that opinion with you, but not her. 

Aren't I polite?

 

 

Vix doesn't need an award to be successful and happy; and I don't need my clothing choices to be approved of by my neighbours or acquaintances.

We're good.

And because I know it will make her laugh and dance, here's a song for Vix!

(Keats and Beck in the same post - can't say I don't cover all the bases.)

Have a great weekend!

xxx

    

Well, we drank champagne and danced all night

The Sheffield Antiques Quarter is pretty much on my doorstep, and I am enjoying watching as various vintage/retro businesses spring up in my local area. 

One of these is a shop called Vintedge. 

There was a competition recently on their Facebook page, in which customers were invited to post a photo of their favourite purchases from the shop. 

I posted this;

 

 my 1970s cotton sundress, bought from Marie at The Queen's Drawers, one of Vintedge's traders.

And I won! 

 

The prize included lunch for two at the Electric Candlelight cafe, so my friend Joanne and I wandered down in the sunshine this afternoon, and enjoyed our food very much..

 

I also received £10 to spend in Vintedge, and it was no hardship at all to browse the shelves and rails to find something lovely. 

 

 

There are fabulous fabrics...

 

crockery and home wares...

 

 

gifts and art work...

 

and of course there is plenty of vintage clothing.

 

 

I tried on a few dresses...

 

(a bit too small, a bit too big...)

 

but eventually decided on this 1970s cotton maxi dress.

 

Perfect!

Thanks very much to Sally at Vintedge and Paul at Electric Candlelight for being so friendly and generous. 

 

 

 

I love my new frock.

 

You don't need me to tell you to support your local independent traders and secondhand sellers - I'm preaching to the converted, right?

 

 

 

 

I'll be keeping everything crossed for darling Vix at the Vintage Awards tomorrow.

 

 Hope everyone is having a great week!

 

xxx

50 or so

Oh the British summer...

So fickle and unpredictable. Woe betide any foolish organiser who blithely assumes that a mid-June event will be bathed in sunshine and warmth.

Over the years, our school summer fair has had more than its share of wet weather, so the organising committee have learnt the hard way that it is worth hiring sturdy gazebos for cover.

This was the view just before the gates opened for business yesterday;

distinctly grey and wet.

But as Vix always says, if we Brits let a bit of rain put us off, we'd never do anything, so we cracked on with a smile and a shrug of our collective shoulders.

My lovely assistant Claudia helped Gemma and I on the tombola.

And the weather did perk up later.

 I dressed as though it was summer anyway; this new-to-me M&S maxi dress was charity shopped.
Of course.
 

See? Smiles all round. Mind you, this was after it was all over for another year.

The Dream Team!

Me, Juliet, Alison, Joanne, Karen and Trace.

Saturday was very busy; summer fair, cava back at Karen's to toast a successful event, despite the weather, then round to my old friend Sally's to celebrate her 50th birthday.

Sal and I have been friends for 32 years. She, Claire and I shared a house together in 1988-9. 

On the left, that's me and Sal at her wedding in 1994; I was her Best Woman, and my speech made her cry. In a good way.

Bottom right must be around 1992-3, I was Sally's lodger for a while.

And above right is Claire and I sporting matching big hair and huge smiles at a party in 1988.

Sal insisted I took her birthday balloons home with me, since my 50th is coming up in 10 days' time.

I think they look like the word SO.

Which is rather how I feel about being 50.

So?

And if you have any saggy balloon jokes, I suggest you keep them to yourselves.

Today has been quiet, as befits the day after a night before which involved an excess of cava, gin, and beer.

1970s cotton maxi dress - community fair (£3)

Sandals and bangles - charity shopped

 Walking back from the customary Sunday swimming lessons/coffee shop trip, I saw this sign in a local cafe.

Count me in, I meet both criteria.  

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

And if you are wondering about the appearance of Peter Gabriel, In Your Eyes was on his album So.

Don't you love it when a post comes together?

xxx

                                                       

All the fun of the flares

You all know about me and trousers, right? 

I rarely wear them, and am in awe of women who can find jeans or trousers which fit and flatter. I look like shit in most pairs I try on, and find dresses are so much easier.

I can happily live without jeans, but I do get the occasional urge for pants. 

And since you asked me so nicely, I'll show you the pair I've made - ta da!

Now I might have a face like a slapped arse, but I can tell you I am delighted with these flares.

They were actually pretty straightforward to make. 

There is a zip at the back, which I got in without any difficulty. The waistband ended up being too big; herein lies my issues with trousers, I think. If they fit my hips and flatter my thighs, the waist is always too large. I overcame this problem by threading some elastic through the waistband to pull it in slightly. A couple of hooks and eyes, et voila, my first ever self-sewn pair of pants!

  I need to press the hems a little better; because the fabric is a synthetic knit, I couldn't use a hot iron. I should probably press them with another layer of cotton fabric on top, then I could turn up the heat to create a smoother finish. 

But I'm feeling the 1970s vibe; are you?

Funnily enough, I found some wide-legged palazzo pants in a charity shop last week, which I also really like.

Palazzos, denim jacket, sunglasses and bangles - charity shopped

Hobbs t-shirt - jumble sale

Sandals - retail (sale)

Now, no post of mine on the vexed question of trousers would be complete without the infamous Penis/Labia Pants, would it?

It's been a while since they made an appearance, and there are new friends around these days who haven't witnessed their insane glory.

(Photos from 2012)

They're Valentino, darlings, found in a charity shop for £2; and they are one of the funniest items of clothing I have ever seen, so I had to buy them.

They would be great Pulling Pants - no mixed messages here, the agenda is written all over the pudenda.

How naughty!

Flares - made by me from a 1973 pattern (gift from Vix) and 1970s polyester knit fabric (flea market)

1970s blouse - gift from Tania
1970s apple necklace - vintage market

1980s belt, sunglasses and bangles - charity shopped

Shoes - retail (sale, ancient)

I'd definitely make some more trousers using this pattern, it's easy enough, and a lighter fabric in a floral print would be great for summer.

And this version will do very nicely in the autumn with ankle boots and my 1970s brown leather/suede Sweeney-style jacket; it's too warm for that now, but I'm planning ahead.

Hmm... what shall I make next? Suggestions?

PS. This is a message for Beth Waltz, who leaves the loveliest, most thoughtful and intelligent comments on my blog and many others. Beth, where is your blog? If you don't have one, you should start one, because you are fabulous! Thank you for always taking the time to say something brilliant, I really appreciate it but had no way of letting you know, other than saying so here.

xxxx