Friday 20 October 2017

India-A-Go-Go! Vamps, Vintage & 1960s Bollywood


Yesterday, when G&T offered me this silver Sixties trouser suit they'd recently found in a charity shop I couldn't take it off their hands fast enough. At first I thought it was a bit Jane Fonda in Barbarella but once I tried it on, H-Bomb Helen, the legendary vamp who appeared in of hundreds of Bollywood films in the 1960s & 1970s, sprung to mind. HERE's a post I dedicated to her seven years ago.


So I put up my hair, applied lashings of matt blue eye shadow (Revlon's Venetian Blue, bought in 2008, now discontinued but you can find it on eBay) and, using a felt pen eyeliner, drew a thick black line both beneath and above my eyes, flicking them out parallel to one another. I used an original 1960s matt lipstick, Max Factor's Teasing Pink (great colour but like all vintage lippie, stinks to high heaven) then added my usual Sleek creme blusher and a pair of cheapo false eyelashes from a discount chemist.



Sadly I haven't got Helen's exotic ancestry (half Burmese, half French) so no doe-like brown eyes, just bog standard British blue ones.



So what's with today's Bollywood love? I'm celebrating! I've only gone and booked our flights to India 'cos there's nothing like distracting yourself with an intense internet search when you've got a full-on weekend of vintage fairs to pack for. Wanna know the best thing? Two Birmingham to Mumbai return tickets with Air France are half the price of the Manchester to Goa cattle class flight we used in January. In fact, at just over £300 each I think they're one of the cheapest deals we've found in 20 years of visiting India (Kayak, I love you). Three months and counting...... 

WEARING: Vintage Carnegie of London, silver Lurex embellished trouser suit (charity shop find by our friends) worn with a pair of early 1970s silver platform sandals by Ravel (Charity shop, 2010)

Talking of India (sorry if I'm alienating non-Brits) but I have to say that last night's new BBC series, Ganges With Sue Perkins, bored the silver lurex pants off me. She seems like a nice enough woman (not that I've ever watched that cake baking programme people seem obsessed by) but haven't celebrity India travelogues been done to death? There's only so many banal comments about cows in unexpected places, interviews with middle class Westerners who've jacked in a corporate life to do something worthwhile and pulling an "ooh, that must hurt" face at bendy yogisYes, Sue's on a quest to achieve inner peace after the death of her father six months ago but having to endure her chucking up due to altitude sickness, moaning about her bones aching and being a bit sarky about the standard of her backpacker hostel don't exactly endear her to me. While the climate change & environmental issues Sue touches on are important I'm inclined to think that if our TV channels didn't show so many celebrity travel documentaries they'd be a lot fewer tourists buggering up far flung places.


And just when you thought I couldn't find anything crazier in a charity shop this week than a pair of suede Lederhosen.....ta-dah! A vintage showgirl costume found yesterday for the princely sum of two quid!


Just what every 50 year old needs in her wardrobe (well, this 50 year old does, I can't speak for the rest of you!) Perfect for dancing around the bedroom to Piya Tu Ab To Aaja.


We're doing the double this weekend and trading back-to-back with Judy's Affordable Vintage Fairs at two gorgeous English Spa towns - Leamington Spa on Saturday (details HERE) and Bath on Sunday (details HERE). It would be fab to see you (and I promise not to dress like middle-aged Bollywood showgirl!)

76 comments:

  1. Yay for you and showing us all how to shimmy round the house. Gorgeous Trouser suit, I wish I still had mine from the early 70’s I loved it.
    Have a fab weekend, hope it’s a busy profitable one with lots of nice people xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pleasure! I'd shimmy for a living if I wasn't scared I'd put my hip out! xxx

      Delete
  2. Wow you look fantastic , What a bargain with your flights too , Hope you have a good trading weekend xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Utterly bloody fabulous!I do love a shimmy. Glad to hear that the flights are booked. All is well in the world when you're booked for India!
    See you Sunday...can't fecking wait to see you.
    Loves ya!
    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! So good to see you on Sunday. it's been far too feckin' long! xxxx

      Delete
  4. That trouser suit is gorgeous! I'm always in awe of people who can do eyeliner. It takes me ages to get it even half right, so I rarely do it. As for vintage lippie, I remember the awful smell and taste from when I tried out my Mum's as a twelve year old. Great deal on the India flights, I bet you can't wait! Meanwhile, have a good trading weekend. Oh, and for some reason I keep thinking of you in that showgirl costume (surely only you can pull this off!) in a double act with Jon in his lederhosen! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blimey, we'd make a right pair dressed like that - Sonny & Cher do the charity shops of the Black Country or what?!
      It's funny, when I'm not going anywhere my eyeliner goes on like a dream but try and do it when I'm going out and it looks like I've been on the beer. xxxx

      Delete
  5. Your dancing photos are so happy that I want to dance now! I love the tassels /fringes on the costume too. What a fantastic way to spend a Friday afternoon.
    Congratulations on the great priced flights, just the countdown to go now.
    Have a good weekend of trading. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do get a bit carried away when I know India's on the horizon. Filmi music and curry on a daily basis! xxx

      Delete
  6. you found wanda jackson´s dress!!! how cool!!
    but the silver suit is totally chic too! and you look stunning in it - a 60´s movie star - ready for the red carpet. fab makeup!
    halleluja for finding flights at that good price - india is waiting for you.
    wish you a successful and fun weekend!!!
    xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to Google Wanda Jackson - wow! How fab was she? xxxx

      Delete
  7. Ha ha! Shimmy lady! Shimmy! That looks like so much damn fun.

    I'm envious how you look so amazing in silver/white. Must be the black hair but it really suits you.

    How wonderful you got such a deal on your flights. It's always so much easier to manage to get through winter when you know you have a great vacation planned.

    Wishing you loads of sales this weekend!

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's funny, it's a colour I rarely wear - maybe I'm emotionally scared from having to wear hideous white blouses with my morning suits way back when! xxx

      Delete
  8. I remember my Mum having the most amazing orange lippy in the 1970s....I found it and tried it out like eyeshadow...she wasn't very pleased! I'm amazed she let me get through childhood in one piece sometimes!
    Arilx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The true orange lipstick in the 1960s really was the stuff of my dreams.
      My Mum had a couple of huge plastic boxes of eyeshadows by Biba & Mary Quant in all manner of mad colours. I still remember their weird greasy smell. xxx

      Delete
  9. Do you have white go-go boots to match the dress? You look so happy-love it!
    Hope you have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've got a good memory!
      To be honest I was going to wear it with the boots but by the time I'd worked out how to step into that leotard without garroting myself on the fringing I'd lost the will to open the wardrobe. xxx

      Delete
  10. Two fabulous outfits. Don't believe you would actually need anything else in your wardrobe. Hope you have a good couple of days away and can collapse in a heap on Monday. Zxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Z! I don't really need anything until I see it and have to have it! xxx

      Delete
  11. You look bloody fabulous!

    I'm ashamed to say i have no idea how much my flight to India cost but the price of the hotel is horrifying, however as work don't seem to give a shit I suppose I shouldn't either. I just need to get a new passport my visa and all my jabs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!!
      I was astounded at the cost of your hotel! Talk about a land of extremes. you'll absolutely love it though, promise! xxx

      Delete
  12. Yeah Baby! (someone had to say that) well done on your flights! Plus your gogo dress - fantastic! I am still hoping for a seatsale to Rome but nothing yet. Right now 4 of us is costing $5000 CAD just for flights (this will be a super expensive holiday but a one off) which is GBP 3000!! Even if I could get that a little lower I would be happy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. gah! How much? Italy is a cheap option for us, it's only a few hours away. Good luck with your quest. xxx

      Delete
  13. You are just so darn cool. I love your eye makeup - so much more personality than the girls on instagram and you tube.
    Because of you, I've been starting to save for a dream vacation - but can't decide on what magical and fabulous place to go. So many choices!
    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so excited to hear that you're saving for a dream trip. Once you know where you want to go to you can print off photo, stick it in your purse, it's a great incentive not to fritter away your cash. xxx

      Delete
  14. Eyeliner! I can barely manage a straight line, lol.

    Glad you found a cheap flight. Air France can be very, er, awful. Their flight crews are snarlier than Air Canada.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't always get it stright, must have been my lucky day!
      Air France have been lovely when we've flown with them previously. One time Jon was asleep and a very handsome steward sat next to me and had me in stitches for hours. xxx

      Delete
  15. you just shake your groove thang, your putting most 25 years olds to shame. My BFF and I have been binge watching Penelope Keith's show where she tours English villages and waxes on about the past. She's a bit of a pill, but the villages are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember that series, it was charming. Have you seen the series with Timothy West & Prunella Scales cruising around Britain in a narrow boat? I think you'd love it. xxx

      Delete
  16. Yowsa! Look at you in your showgirl ensemble!! Glamour to the max!! I think you look plenty exotic in your wonderful silver suit. I'm glad you mentioned that vintage smelled to high heaven, I have always felt the same way. But no-one else I have met has used vintage lippie, so I was never able to confirm my suspicions were correct.

    Kayak rocks!

    happy thrifting ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Yes, vintage lipstick does have a very distinctive smell and a very waxy consistency - great colours, horrid to wear! xxx

      Delete
  17. "but haven't celebrity India travelogues been done to death? "
    What really irritates me is that these travelogues go to ALL the same places over & over! There's so many "off the beaten path" beautiful & interesting places to see in India. It's like a talk show where the guests are always the same but the host is different - rather tired & dull.

    "I'm inclined to think that if our TV channels didn't show so many celebrity travel documentaries they'd be a lot fewer tourists buggering up far flung places."
    Buggered up or not - far flung places could really use that tourist money- especially after the disaster that was demonetisation & the new GST asininity.

    Gracious, with that white pant set & go-go dress you're gorgeously all set for a trip to Vegas & Palm Springs with the Rat Pack!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! It's always the same old places. When we travelled to Coorg even the Rough Guide only managed a couple of pages about it although the state tourist board does tend to discourage tourism - their latest campaign says something like " Visit Coorg but don't come back too often and spoil it!" Made me giggle. xxx

      Delete
  18. A showgirl outfit! And it's vintage! How cool. So much excitement- I'm sure you're beyond thrilled, counting down to India. Hope you have a great time and enjoy the weekend. Xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jess! It's so good to have the flights booked, I'm usually so last minute and miss all the bargains! xxx

      Delete
  19. The white trouser suit is fab! Having now seen your loveliness in person I can truly imagine you wearing it! I saw the ads for the Sue thingy programme and decided not to bother. There are so many celebs travelling to everywhere that it got tedious very quickly and I'm not keen on her anyway. That and cooking shows must be cheap telly as they are all over the listings like a rash!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, you say the nicest things, Maureen!
      You were right not to bother with Sue Thingy, I doubt if I'll watch the rest. I can't be doing with cooking programmes either having worked in the catering industry for years. Bring back The Sewing Bee! xxx

      Delete
  20. The showgirl outfit was made for you! But outside your bedroom when will you wear it?

    I loved the trouser suit and as for those silver ankle strap shoes; I swear I had the same pair only in black suede. You look ravishing in the outfit, Vix. A definite vamp! Helen was pretty cool, I had never heard of her before.

    As for flights - what a fabulously bargainous price. Well done you.

    Have a very profitable weekend.

    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You never know...my Grandma always said to buy it and the right occasion will present itself.
      My heart skipped a beat when I found those sandals all those years ago in the grottiest Black Country town known to man. xxx

      Delete
  21. Cor, Vix, you look ah-bloody-mazing in your outfits. I truly don't know which one I love best. You have a great pair of pins and nice to see you showing them off. 50-bah! Age is just a number, I work with a load of younger people and they are really tame by our standards. You look freakin' fabulous. That was great BTW finding those cheap flights to India. You must be so stoked about going. Helen is magnificent. I had looked up the H-Bomb after Mim posted about her. What a hottie. I love her style. Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kelly! I never cease to despair at how tame the younger generation seem to be, I'm sure we were way wilder back then. xxx

      Delete
  22. Wow, wow, wow! I love lurex and this is one of the most fantastic examples I've seen. And, how the heck do you get that eyeliner to look so perfect?
    I think everyone 50 yo or older would benefit from a vintage showgirl costume in her wardrobe. Sometimes you just need to break out the really fun stuff!

    Theresa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Theresa!! I'm a massive Lurex fan, too!
      I always start my eyeliner on the outside of the eye (the wing bit) and work inwards, seems to go on a lot straighter than the conventional way. xxx

      Delete
  23. Legs eleven! Blimey, I hope Jon enjoyed your showgirl shimmy. I would have had to buy the costume too. I no longer talk myself out of ridiculous purchases, they're the most fun! Xx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Doing quick conversions in my head on your flights-sounds like a bargain to me. Now I wonder if I started to do more shimmying in my bedroom if I might get a little of my old (twenty years ago) figure back?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are a bargain, just shows how booking well in advance can save loads of money instead of our usual last minute antics! thank goodness for a successful festival selling summer. xxx

      Delete
  25. Well, who needs celebrities when we have you???!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If the BBC ever want to send me to India I'd do my best to make an interesting travel documentary! xxx

      Delete
  26. The thought of India has sure spiced you up. My worry is one of these times you won't come back.😭

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They won't let us stay longer than six months - they had enough trouble getting rid of us in 1947! xxx

      Delete
  27. Nothing like scoring a bargain to inspire a woman to dance! We cannot doubt Tina Turner would claim you as a soul sister from the "Black Country", if she could see you shimmy. (I do agree with Goody about the white go-go boots: much safer!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those strappy platforms aren't the best thing to dance in. I'll have to take Goody's advice and look out the boots! xxx

      Delete
  28. Ah ha, you're ready now for the Vix in Vegas show. All white just like Elvis!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hadn't thought of Vegas - maybe that'll be my next stop! xxx

      Delete
  29. Shake it, Vix!! You look effing fantastic!!! Great score on the tix.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Everyone should Be More Helen. That eyeshadow looks fantastic - Gisela and I were both grousing over how boring all the eyemakeup in shops is right now. I like a bit of brown, but it shouldn't be the only colour.

    You look ace in those outfits. The trouser suit is really chic.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tell me about it! I was looking for a replacement green eyeshadow the other day and the choice was appalling, brown, brown and more brown which looks terrible on me. xxx

      Delete
  31. You look the dog's whatsits in your 'new' trouser suit...really! Those seventies platforms are absolutely ace and couldn't be better with this outfit.
    Excellent work on the tickets, just have to hope the pilots aren't en greve that week. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love those platforms but they're definitely taxi shoes, no good for my usual stomp down the hill of doom to the pub.
      xxx

      Delete
  32. Shake and shimmy, you're a star! Congrats on the ticket score - I love that part of planning, hunting down a good bargain. Stay fabulous, xox

    Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. ohh, that pants suit is fabulous!!, it fits you like a dream, and you look so gorgeous wearing it!, so cool hairstyle and makeup!!, I'm a huge fan of eyeliner, yeah!! You're like a rockstar, dear lady!
    And so lovely to see more pics of a legendary Bollywood vamp, she looks Fabulous with a f*ck*n' Capital F!!
    I'm also bored of all those tv programmes too, famous people showing you places that you would enjoy by yourself way better tan they do!.
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! My eyeliner worked first time - that's not always the case, i need more practice. xxx

      Delete
  34. Crikey, look at you! You're looking absolutely fantastic in white! Both outfits are a dream! I love your eye make up, which I wouldn't even attempt, I have a hard enough time trying to get mascara on without poking myself in the eye! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! White's a colour I rarely wear, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the photos! xxx

      Delete
  35. Goodness Vix, you do look great in everything!
    Have a wonderful weekend at your fairs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Robin! We did have a great weekend of trading, it's almost time to pack for the next one now. Where does the time go? xxx

      Delete
  36. Fanbloodytastic! Your dancing pics made me laugh with joy! The trouser suit also looks amazing, white and silver suit you - as does every colour under the sun. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I think I need more silver in my life - and not just on my arms and fingers! xxx

      Delete
  37. That trouser suit is amazing, as is the showgirl costume - I need one in my wardrobe too! xx

    ReplyDelete
  38. First of all, congratulations on getting your tickets to India! Second - I don't know anyone else that would look as Damn-Frickin'-Fabulous in the white pantsuit and showgirl costume. You've got the perfect hair for it, and of course, the perfect attitude as well ;)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix