Ancient & Modern - Secondhand Finds of the Week

Shock horror! Not only do I buy vintage clothes from charity shops but, very occasionally, I find some cracking modern stuff, like the gigantic wool shawl of indeterminate origin I found in a 50p dump bin yesterday and promptly remade into this super cosy maxi skirt.

The inside label on these fleece lined leather boots by German company Caprice claimed to be like "Walking on Air". I've had them on since 8am and they're not wrong. A quick Google search revealed that they retail at £80, I reckon I did well for £2. 

These black suede boots were from the same chazza and also £2. I loved the 1930s-type styling and that they were a 39.5 (my true size so no need for Poundland insoles). The name Stuart Weitzman didn't ring any bells but it turns out they retail for £395 and these babies haven't even been worn! Whoever can afford to spend that much on footwear and then give it away unused really should adopt me.

When I'm travelling I swear by my Kobo (my secondhand E-reader) but the rest of the time it's real books. Age UK do 3 paperbacks for £1 and these took my fancy. These Foolish Things is the novel from which the wonderful Best Marigold Hotel is loosely based, I've seen the film three times so I'm excited to read this. The Geoffrey Moorhouse hardback was 50p.

My ancient PC has been on the blink for ages, my mobile phone doesn't have internet access and I don't own a laptop, tablet or any of those new fangled devices, so I was forced to splash out on a reconditioned hard drive from eBay (which wasn't as expensive as I'd feared).  Jon spotted a keyboard yesterday that was in a much better state than the wonky one I normally use so we snapped it up for £3. The pair of bastard massive curtain ties were 50p from the same discount bin as my skirt fabric. I'm tempted to nick one to wear as a necklace. 

Old stuff's still our main passion though. Here's just some of the groovy vintage we've found this week.

Clockwise from top left: 1930s tailcoat; Lilian Douglas of Darlington cotton maxi; One (of two) pith helmets; Harella wool and velvet coat; Cape sleeved maxi; Cotton maxi; English-made brogues; Debonair sheepskin boots; St Michael bell bottoms; Spanish-made metallic leather & glitter cowboy boots; Pheasant print wool jumper; Tie-dye, velvet trim maxi; Icelandic knit; Gents' tapestry waistcoat; French-made wedge heel wellies.

Me-made maxi skirt (made up as I went along without a pattern, don't look too closely!), fringed bodysuit (charity shop, 2014), 1960s lace-up suede waistcoat (Xmas present from Liz, 2013), Lamani coin pendant (India)

We're trading with Judy's in Oxford on Saturday (details HERE) and Vintage Village at Stockport (see HERE) on Sunday. Come if you can or, if not, I'll see you on the other side of the weekend!

Jessica of Chronically Vintage did a fabulous post featuring 1960s-loving blogs. You'll find me, Curtise and some other wonderful bloggers in there.