Tuesday 28 September 2010

The Black Widow

Pussybow jacket, Vintage Pagoda print maxi (£2.50 for the pair at a car boot sale), Earrings (Colaba street market, Bombay)
I've known as being honest to the point of brutality by my friends. This means that whenever they need to buy something new, pack for a trip or sort out their wardrobes I'm the one who gets invited to help. I'm not mean but I like my friends to look fabulous at all times and they rely on me to tell me if they don't.


I've been helping Liz (my friend who moved house yesterday) with her wardrobe and I've dressed in what Jon calls my Black Widow outfit so show that I mean business. "It's Jean Muir" , "It's practical" or "I wore it on my honeymoon" holds no sway with me, if it doesn't fit, is tatty or doesn't suit then it's out.

We've condensed her three wardrobes and two bin bags into a neat and tidy double wardrobe (which now closes), a summer suitcase stowed away under the bed and a huge pile for her to eBay which should hopefully raise enough funds to pay for an antique chest of drawers. There's also a good selection for the charity shop and a pile for revamping and patchwork projects.
Print close-up
I'm nice really, honest!

On the subject of nice I've been awarded this award by not one but three beautiful bloggers: Taxonomy of my Wardrobe , Pull Your Socks Up, A Bit of Our Life


Thank you so much, you lovely ladies.


45 comments:

  1. Adore the jacket.
    The print is positively luminous! I think I'd want to frame it.

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  2. I wore black today too and I had to sort some stuff out..... but not in as nice as way as you by the sound of it! Everyone needs a Vix to help prune their overgrown wardrobes. Love that print. xx

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  3. Wow you look fab! My jaw always drops when I see what you've paid for such fantastic gear - but then you have a good eye my dear. That's so interesting that you help your friends declutter their wardrobes - it must be fun - I probably need you to come out to my place to sort out my hoarding ways but then I'll probably try to defend myself by saying that you have three wardrobes!

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  4. magnifique tenue,tres classe ;O)

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  5. You've got such great style. I love the print and the little black jacket. Congrats on your award too :)

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  6. You look fabulous darling....love the print...and the cute little tie on the top:)

    Enter my F21 Giftcard Giveaway!!
    Statements in Fashion Blog

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  7. I couldn´t agree more, if something is tatty, doesn´t fit or doesn´t make you look your best, you are better off without it.
    You are a clever lady!!!
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  8. Love the print on your skirt and the skirt is a real classic. You are obviously a true friend to your friends in the sense that you tell them the truth, not just want they want to hear and that is very precious indeed x

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  9. Oh! I am also "That" friend. Not mean but honest! ... I would have done the same with all the clothes are don't look good on my friend any more. You however are sporting that outfit quite well I must say :)

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  10. Hi there-wow, you'll give Gok a run for his money, lol!! Looking lovely all in black, thats a super maxi dress!

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  11. I love the print on your skirt, very pretty! Sounds like you have been super busy helping your friend, I imagine it was lots of fun though! x

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  12. I need a friend like this! Packing for uni, I took far too much and I ended up sending 3 cases of clothes back with my mum!

    Lou x - craftyandquirky.blogspot.com

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  13. I'm right with you - I would never lie to my friends about whether something suited them or not! Anyway, that is how people know they can trust me, because I'll be honest even if it is an unpleasant truth.

    Your skin is looking good here - new regime, or does black just suit you?

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  14. Mmmmm,tasty in black,and tres chic!! I really like that,and the print is divine!!
    I'd love to spend a day wardrobe sorting and quaffing plonk with you.We'd have a ball! Liz is lucky to have you!!!
    LOVE Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  15. Hi Vix, fancy a trip to the west country to help me with my wardrobe? Mind you, I'd probably end up with an empty cupboard, practicality being the name of the game for me!
    Meant to say how much fun it looked like at Fashion Week and how lovely that you and Jem got on so well x

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  16. Wow, that print is so gorgeous! And you look lovely in the second picture :)

    x x x x

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  17. Great outfit and the print on the skirt is wonderful. Helping people improve their look is not easy, it takes a genuine interest in both clothes and people. Your friends are lucky to have you.

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  18. The perfect outfit to whip a wardrobe in shape, Vix.It looks stunning on you. I'm actually a bit envious that it's not mine... xxx

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  19. the second snap from the top = cuteness!!
    your nailcolour compliments your outfit so beautifully, Vix!

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  20. The jacket is so smart and fabulous!! u look all serious and ready to work:-)

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  21. vintage chest of drawers oh that sounds so necessary right now. i want to redo my entire closet. i want cedar everywhere! i would love to see a post on you helping somebody flesh out their wardrobe. that is major work but rewarding!

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  22. I need a friend like you. I hate it when my friends say something looks nice, suits me, when I look a bag of crap with a belt tying it all up. :)
    I shop on my own and think I have quite a good eye now to saying no to bad clothes. I charity shopped a big bag the other week though...well I had just been shopping.

    xxx

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  23. The jacket is gorgeous. I'm with you on the tough love approach - anything that hasn't been worn in the last 6 months goes. If you've been putting something on in the morning, then changing out of it at the last minute there's a good reason for that (however 'designer' it is or how much it cost!). xx
    http://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/

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  24. Wow, what a stunning skirt!

    You'd be welcome to winkle out the crap from my wardrobe anyday. I like to think that I'm as honest as possible with friends when it comes to clothes but then I can be quite sensitive myself so I never want to crush someone's hopes in something they think looks lovely!

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  25. Haha I think I'd LOVE to rake thru someone else wardrobe! Some of the sights I see around town these days only reinforce that longing too, lots of awfulness around where I live :P

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  26. I love this! LOVE it, I am all about a neck bow! Also, I adored your comment today, and this is why I love you, Miss Vix, you quote Diana Vreeland! XX!

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  27. My overstuffed triple wardrobe is here and waiting for you...

    Loving the all black look =) xx

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  28. Both the style and colour of this ensemble really suit you. I'm with you on the culling rules, we all need to be ruthless every now and then.xx.

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  29. I love the print on your maxi Vix, very pretty. Hey, people need friends like us. I am brutality honest as well. There's no point lying to your close friends. I am that honest that I laugh and say "Heck no DO NOT WEAR THAT!" Hahahaha. xxx

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  30. Dear Vix, I love you in that outfit. I love black and you do look like you mean business.

    It's great to go and sort someone else wardrobe out. I used to 'life laundry' my friend's houses. I'm quite ruthless and they know I always tell them the truth about everything. I think it's only fair!

    I wish I was as good at sorting out my own wardrobe... I'm still not finished. Have a fabulous day xx

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  31. Vix, I am wearing black today as well!I love the pagoda border on your skirt, it's quite lovely and I love that big bow. But I am really intrigued with your earrings.

    I think you did a great job helping sort your friend's wardrobe out. She'll really be thanking you once she gets her antique chest of drawers!

    ~Bonnie

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  32. Dear Vix,
    That pagoda print is spectacular!
    I don’t think I’d be very helpful to someone trying to declutter their wardrobe, seeing as I am a terrible clutter bug & incurable hoard addict myself.
    I’d probably end up trying to convince them to keep hold of those beige bell bottom cords…cause you just never know when you might need them again.
    Wow, a wardrobe that closes, that’s amazing, I’ve not seen one of them for years ;)
    I’d love to be able to hang everything up on coat hangers & actually have space in between the garments…that would be a dream come true…instead of intermittently having to spend hours looking for one item of clothing, annoyingly hidden away in the bottom of a bag somewhere.
    Hope you girls had fun purging, didn’t fall out in the process and that the eBay auctions will raise enough money for Liz’s antique chest of drawers.
    Luv,
    Jem
    …xXx

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  33. I think I need a bit of Vix to help me sort out my wardrobe! I hoard everything, even the most ill-fitting of frocks! All right...I know what's got to happen!

    Love your outfit, as always!

    xx Claire

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  34. Another fab outfit! I really like pattern on the skirt and the way the cinched in jacket waist shows your figure off to perfection. Loving the comments about sorting out your friend's wardrobe - you'd have a field day with me! Congratulations on your award too - very much deserved. BTW - what make is that dark green nail varnish you're wearing? Is it Barry M? I love it.

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  35. You look amazing in black, absolutely stunning, you have the right colouring to be able to carry it off (I just look like some weird little goth girl when I try - my friends call me Wednesday Addams for a reason!)

    I love your ruthless approach to your friend's wardrobe, that's what good friends are for

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  36. You look just fabulous !
    The print is so pretty and black is your color !
    You're just lovely, as usual !

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  37. Ive just been catching up, I really loved your vintage hair styles posts so fabulous!! And congrats winning your VIP tickets too. I really love over knee boots and am on the look out for a new pair too xx

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  38. I like this outfit. It's my favorite color and it looks so sophisticated. Love your accessory combination

    Candy dancing,
    Berlin

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  39. I adore this outfit, it is very smart but still very you. I love the print close up, so lovely.
    This sounds too familiar; I’m always making blatantly ridiculous excuses to hang on to clothes that really don’t need hanging on to. xx

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  40. Vix I love your don't-mess-with take on life and getting it all in order. I have had a good hard look at my wardrobe yet I need to get even tougher with myself. Seeing you looking super chic today, I'm even more determined to make it happen. xoxo

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  41. Gorgeous Vix! You are such a Diva! For that I adore You! Please call round to my house and help me with my wardrobe - I can certainly learn many stylish things from you. Ah, you look good in Black - goes well with your hair and skin;-)

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  42. That first paragraph.... wow... you could be talking about me Vix!!!

    You are gorgeous!!! and I covet all your outfits! this is no exception.

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  43. The print on that skirt is fab, really brightens up a black outfit!

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Lots of love, Vix