Green shoots

Despite all the dire drought warnings in the UK, we managed to get a rather healthy downpour at the weekend, along with a wonderful double rainbow.

                   It had been a wet'n'windy kind of day, I was glad to be wearing a maxi to keep my pins warm!

I love this 1960s maxi skirt which I bought from the last St. Mary's vintage market. I need to take it in slightly and move the button, it's a bit big on the waist, but a trusty belt hides a multitude of sins.

                Sorry about the photos, the light was most odd, and as you know, camera skills are not my forte...


           It must be all the developing colour in the garden that's making me want to wear green. This is what I wore today.

I wear this 1970s polyester frock a lot, so the £5 spend in St. Luke's charity shop was well worth it. I like it with the extra hit of green - the cardigan is also charity-shopped.

        Littlest wanted to be on the blog again. She's rather liking the attention, I think. It must be a Third Child thing (like me!)

                                                         I try to discourage such blatant showboating...

   ... but then she goes a bit demonic. She could be in Bonnie Tyler's video for Total Eclipse of the Heart. "Turn around, Bright Eyes..."

                                                                                  Scary, no?

Thank goodness for the refuge of the garden. Under the pretence of cooking tea, I noodled about outside taking photos. On my own.

The cherry blossom is coming out. It doesn't last long, but while it does, it's glorious. There's probably a message about life in that.

                            The squirrels usually dig up all the tulip bulbs, but this year they decided to let them be.

                                                               Having a Georgia O'Keeffe moment.

                                                                      Sure, life has its drudgery...

                                                                    ...but it also has its rainbows.

                                                                                   xxx

Homage to the original Sassy Vamp

A while back, the wondrous Helga did a post entitiled "What would Desiree do?" She wanted to add some va-va-voom to a frock, and recognised that our favourite Sassy Vamp has many an excellent styling trick up her sleeve.

So when I received a Parcel of Joy from Desiree this week containing one of her famous (now for sale) headbands, I knew I wanted to wear in it proper Desiree style.

                                                                I too found myself pondering...

                                                                    ...what would Desiree do?

I think she would probably start off like this. Desiree loves a bit of underwear-as-outerwear so the frothy petticoat is perfect. And we know she has taken lessons in double-bagging from Rough Vera.

She likes to confuse the onlookers, so a ladylike 1950s blouse (back to front in this case for added craziness) works well. And we all know she has a touch of the exhibitionist about her...

                                                     Ooh la la, what do we find beneath the frou-frou?

We find a few more ruffles, that's what!  I sent Desiree a red pair of these, but kept some royal blue frilly pants all for myself!

It caused great amusement on Chesterfield market. Can you believe I found two pairs of 1960s frilly knickers, on the different stalls, on the same day? One for Desiree, one for me!

              Sooner or later, the dress/skirt/trousers have to come off if you're inspired by Desiree. It's the law.
                                                   

                                                      I do apologise - I don't know how that happened!

                                         A gal needs sparkly tights, high heels, and major accessorizing.

Here is the glorious headband in all its purple magnificence.And a bit of cleavage. Sorry about the uninspiring light switch in the background - how very Readers' Wives...

A gratuitous boob shot never goes amiss. The silver necklaces are from charity shops, the wonderful skull necklace is handmade by darling Zumba-hot-bod Krista. Boob Crack - all my own work.

                                  The kids can play along too. Especially when the outfit matchy-matches!

Oh sweetness. She popped on a bit of lippy for the photo shoot. And applied it as I would after a few pints too many....
  

Thank you, Desiree. Thank you for your inspirational, no-holds-barred fabulousness. You are a delicious woman and a lovely friend. I salute you in appropriate fashion...

                 Who doesn't want to grab their own arse when they are bedecked in flowers and frilly vintage nylon?


                                                                              xxxxx

Meet Dorothy Devore

                                             Has everyone had a good Easter break? I do hope so.

On Easter Monday, my eldest sister and my 2 gorgeous nieces visited, along with my mum. Mum is a real hoarder, it broke her heart to have to downsize from our family home to a one-bedroom bungalow, but she has still managed to keep all manner of treasures. She asked if I wanted my bridesmaid dress (from my sister's wedding in 1981, it was a Wallis powder blue/floral pussy-bow number, as I recall.) I thought it might sell, even if I couldn't fit into it anymore, so I said yes.

When she arrived, with a box full of all sorts of goodies, she very apologetically confessed she couldn't find the bridesmaid dress, but would I like this instead?

                                                                               Would I?
 

                                        
                                                                             Yes I would!

I remember this dress from my childhood. Mum bought lots of old frocks, bags, shoes and costume jewellery from jumble sales in the 1960s and 70s for my sisters and I to use as dressing-up clothes. This was one of them. It has managed to survive remarkably unscathed, and unlike much of that collection (oh how I wish I had it now!) Mum kept it, as she knew it was old and good quality.

It's a 1920-30s silk velvet devore print dress. It's stunning. And it fits me! This one is not going anywhere near Ebay, I am in love with it.


In the course of researching the dress (trying to date it, I can't decide if it looks more 1920s or 30s - Kitty, if you aren't too busy, could you help?!) I googled "devore" and discovered....

                                                                                 source

                                                     ... Dorothy Devore. I've fallen in love again!

Dorothy was a silent film actress in the 1920s. It's not a period of film I know much about, apart from the household names, but I love the look.

                                                                                   source

                                  Dorothy Devore giving Harold Lloyd a run for his money in Hold Your Breath.

I think this Dorothy Devore dress has brought out my inner flapper. Helga, stop making up your own jokes, I can hear you guffawing from here.

                                                                                 source



Mum also brought me this 1930 needlework book. Naturally I don't have the ability to make anything in it, but I can appreciate the lovely illustrations and marvel at the fascinating stitchery skills required.

 

                                                        Who isn't amused by a handmade tea cosy?

1920-30s silk velvet devore dress (gift), feather fascinator (Ebay), tights and faux pearls (charity shopped) faux pearl strand (gorgeous Squirrel Vanessa), T-bar shoes (market)

There were lots of other bits and pieces to show you but I don't want to distract from the wonder of Dorothy Devore. She's the star.

                                                                 Anyone fancy seeing my Black Bottom?

                                                                                  xxxx

Back to Black

                                   Spring and Easter should be all about light, bright colour, right? Wrong.

                                                  Black, black... Must have been feeling a bit moody.

I like the 1970s vibe of this dress. It isn't vintage, but it only cost a quid in St. Luke's charity shop sale, so that was good enough for me.

The Chinese silk waistcoat was another £1 purchase (from Ebay). I don't think this is old either, despite being sold as vintage, but I love it.


Now before you wonder why I'm all doomy, gloomy and dark - I'm really not! I was delighted to receive a lovely package of Easter treats from my friend Fiona. Handmade cards (in a handmade box) for me...

 
                                      .... and mini eggs in handmade packaging for the LBs. So adorable!

Fiona features her beautiful handmade cards and her photography on her blog, and I am trying to persuade her to photograph herself more often as she is so gorgeous. Do check out her blog, it's lovely.


                                      So with all this colour and brightness about, I should really join in.

Inspired by how fabulous Helga looks in pink (or any other colour, come to that), I thought I'd give it a go. I don't wear much pink...

                          Funny but I don't really like this outfit. Not sure what's wrong but I think it's the top.

                 It's a gorgeous 1950s knit in icy white, look at the gorgeous silver embroidery round the neckline....

... and such a beautiful label. I should love it. But it's not right on me. The neckline is too high and the colour too pale. I wore the same outfit later in the day when we all went out for tea, but with a black scoop neck top, and felt much better. I have no photos to prove it, you'll have to take my word for it.

                                                                       So Back to Black it is!

                                                   Anyone else thinking Whistler's Mother? Haha!


                                                   Hope you have all enjoyed a lovely Easter break.
                                                                                    xxx