Tuesday 12 October 2010

An Oldie But A Goodie


Not a very exciting post today as these are my comfort clothes, they've been with me for years and whenever I can't be bothered they are the things I always grab from the wardrobe.


The Bayeaux Tapestry print maxi skirt was £5 from the local vintage shop. It's made by "Duke of Bond Street" from Courtauld's Lirelle fabric and is labelled as a "Size 12 to fit a 24in waist", more of a UK size 8 by today's super-sized standards. As soon as I spotted it I was instantly transported back to the 1970's, one of Mum's friends had a trouser suit in the same print which was an endless source of fascination to me as a child.


I packed my skirt along with a vintage maxi dress and a Topshop frock for a six week backpacking trip around South India a few years back. The Topshop dress disintegrated after three weeks but the vintage items stayed with me throughout my trip and are still going strong.


I bought the leather jacket in 1992 on the first charity shopping date I went on with Jon. I was reluctant to spend £7 as it seemed an enormous amount for a second-hand garment back then but I'm so glad I did, eighteen years later both the jacket and my relationship are going strong. 


I'm wearing Benefit's Bad Gal eye pencil today and I must say I'm massively underwhelmed. It might not have cool packaging but at least my usual 50rp kohl crayon from a Chennai supermarket stays put.

What's the most worn items in your wardrobe?

43 comments:

  1. Anything by Courtauld's is probably indestructible and a complete bio-hazard but what the hell! Amazing print.

    My clothes are always comfort-clothes. Black fleeces, flat heels, shorts, tights, black tops. I'd like to be flamboyant but I just end up totally tasteless.

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  2. You are doing a super job to post everyday.
    I adore that skirt. The print is so interesting and full of possible combinations.
    Un puñado de besos.
    ( a fist full of kisses)
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  3. Thank you for not having the WORD VERIFICATION time trap, he, he.

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  4. The maxi skirt is gorgeous! <3<3
    My most worn item would prob be my vintage bag that my ma bought in the flea market for a euro. I didn't spot it and didn't like it much at the start. Now I never take it off! (I robbed it on poor poor mammy haha) It goes with every outfit and it's big so can carry my magazine/book/camera/shit around.

    x x x x

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  5. My God, those are your comfort clothes? What an amazing skirt! I had to reproduce a part of the Bayeaux Tapestry for a school project as a girl and found it a fascinating work.
    I'm wearing my cosiest bits of knitwear to death at the moment because I'm feeling the cold. I did buy a vintage chocolate suede 60's or 70's jacket with a glorious dark brown fur collar from Portabello Market fifteen years ago for a song. I did manage to wear it out finally, I loved and wore it so much I put unrepairable holes in the pockets. I was devastated to part with it.

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  6. I am envious of the fact that even your comfort clothes are beautiful. If I'm having a comfy day, it's hoodie and tracksuit bottoms all the way!

    I used to be obsessed with the Bayeux tapestry as a child, my 'parental collective' (there are 4 of them) used to be very tolerant of the things it 'inspired' and my Dad and Stepmum even organised a whole holiday so I could go and see it. I still have the mini version I bought in the gift shop

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  7. Ps. that is me in the background of the video. We were sewing labels for the Ciudad Juarez project I posted about a while ago. I'm on the verge of finishing my first mini banner, I'll share it when it goes up

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  8. I had the same issue with the Bad Gal Eye Pencil I was not too happy with it either. Jacket is beautiful, it looks mega soft too.
    Kandi x

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  9. Wow, even dressed down you look amazing! I'm afraid it's jeans, vest tops, trainers and fleece/wooly jumper according to the season at the moment. My excuse is none of my nice clothes will fit me til I lose the baby weight!

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  10. That maxi skirt SCREAMS fall to me....you look fabulous hunnie:)


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    Statements in Fashion Blog♥

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  11. Like you and Kandi I was also unimpressed with the Bad Gal eyeliner. I much prefer my cheapo Rimmel kohl. Those are your comfort clothes? Mine are pyjamas x

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  12. I love your comfort clothes! Mine are a pair of old denim shorts with holes in....they are not really suitable to wear out in public :)wooly tights and a baggy jumper that i got from a second hand shop in Portsmouth xxx

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  13. Just when I come over to tell you I answered your tag you've figured it out yourself. Thank you again, Vix. 'twas fun! The 7£ were a splendid investment. I'm also often quite amazed at the quality difference between new and old clothes. What also never ceases to amaze me is the tiny waists women had before the 80s. As you say - a former size 12 would go as an 8 these days. xxx

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  14. now that, Vix, is what I'd like to call a *fantabulous* print!

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  15. Hi my dear-what a wow comfort outfit, adore the jacket and the maxi skirt is really lovely, a fab find indeed! I so wish I'd kept a lot more of my stuff from the 80s, my collection of vintage is thrifted mainly-my most worn item has to be a pyjama top I've had since I was about 13, it has a tiger on it and it was from South Africa! x

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  16. You look so gorgeous,I love those crazy printed skirts!! Hot jacket,def 7 quid well spent,blossom.
    Love you,talk later,Helga XXXXXXXXX

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  17. I SO agree about Bal Gal! Totally underwhelmed.

    The jacket is a fantastic shape - so classic, no wonder it's stuck with you for so long! x

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  18. I don't agree with bad gal, I love it, and find it stays put. Not worth the money though, cheaper eyeliners have done the same.
    Love that jacket with the skirt, tough and pretty.

    xx

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  19. I love that your comfort clothes include a Bayeaux tapestry maxi skirt, hehe. Beats the old trackie daks!

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  20. Vix, comfort clothes? They look like smart, classy clothes to me. I love the print of that maxi skirt.

    I call my comfort clothes my grubs and believe me you won't see me or my grubs beyond the driveway! They are comfortable, still wearable but should probably give them to a thrift shop clothes. At least you and your comfort clothes don't mind being seen in public! I should probably have you come over and sort out my wardrobe over some Cuba Libres!

    ~Bonnie xxx

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  21. Your skirt looks very comfy indeed! My comfort clothes are trackies and a tee. Or in the summer Ben's boxer shorts and a singlet.

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  22. Gorgeous comfort clothes. My comfy clothes? Definitely jeans.

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  23. Vix, even on a comfort day you're glammer than most of us on dress-up days! You look lovely as always. My most worn items are still by dark blue and black pairs of skinny jeans. Pre-blog I wore jeans every day, now it's about twice a week which is a pretty big change. xx
    http://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/

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  24. I've been wearing the Bad Gal lately (I changed my eye make up from relatively sophisticated to just lots of black round my eyes which seems to suit me better than anything) and I quite like it. Goes on easy and stays there.
    It's lovely to hear the history of your clothes, I never tire of it =)

    xx

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  25. You look lovely! That leather jacket is especially nice, and fits you like a glove.

    I totally agree about Bad Gal - so hyped, and I find it messy, not dark enough and generally rubbish. I've used Bourjois since I was 15, I've tried others but I always return to it. :)

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  26. Dear Vix, I remember that print very well from the Seventies. I love the fact you've had those pieces for so long and that they and Jon have stood the test of time.

    My favourite comfort clothes is a Seventies jumpsuit and a black vintage Thirties style dress xx

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  27. I really do adore that skirt. If you ever see anything in the same print, do let me know. Pretty please. I would genuinely love to wear Bayeux Tapestry printed anything.

    Most worn items? Alas, probably my jeans. How very dull of me. I just feel braver about trying something new and different on my top half than I do on my bottom half!

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  28. That skirt is divine! I refuse to wear tracksuit pants, or anything of the sort. My idea of comfort clothes, depending on the season, is either (if cold) a pair of tights with a shirt dress and a cardi, or (if warm) a halter neck dress that i don't need to wear a bra or anything with!

    I bought a pair of harem pants recently, but since I prefer not to wear pants at all, i save them for belly dancing!

    Xox Claire

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  29. A couple of black skirts & a denim jacket or two....I wear WAY too much :)

    Vix, how many times do you change clothes a day? Just curious. (If that's too personal a question, I understand...)

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  30. Ahhh, the most worn ???
    Probably black cotton jersey with a Tee and a pile of baubles. My faded denim jacket is a comfy go-to and always a hat :)
    I hate to wash my hair ;)

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  31. For a comfort outfit you look cool and stylish. I really like the fit of your leather jacket, it's lovely and I like the touch of the sleeves turned up.

    Thats annoying about the bad gal pencil given the cost of it! I use and swear by bad gal lash mascara but haven't tried the pencil and might not bother, my cheap one does the trick fine enough for me. x

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  32. Fab skirt, love it, my most worn comfort item is a Laura Ashley floor length (on me anyway) very full cord skirt with horizontal tucks, c1990 I wear it around the house most of the winter to exclude draughts, I went out in it a few times but it trails on the ground and gets dirty, so don't bother with that anymore.

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  33. Just goes to show a good quality item can last a lifetime, and it looks amazing.
    I lusted after the Bad Gal pencil for years, and then when I finally got it I wasn’t over impressed! I guess that’s kind of typical really xx

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  34. Quality lasts, does it not? Love that dress. Main main item of comfort wear is an old cardie that I nicked from my grandad when I was about 13. It's old school M&S and is still going strong. And headscarves. I wear them all the time around the house...and out of it come to think about it!
    I'm not showing up on the google reader thingy again, but I'm still posting! xxx

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  35. That outfit looks perfect for the fall weather... I love the skirt and leather jacket combo...very cool!

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  36. Beautiful outfit! I've been wearing my cardigans often lately lol.

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  37. I adore everything in your outfit Vix!

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  38. Love it, very fall, Vix! Gorgeous! You are looking so pretty as always!

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  39. You look gorgeous! And I totally agree about the bad Gal - what a waste of time. I'm going back to cheapo Rimmel and H&M eyeliners - hands down the best I've ever bought (Chanel was probably one of the worse for me!)

    ▲ WOLF WHISTLE ▲

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  40. I love 70's prints, I'm not sure I'd wear any but they are so fascinating! I actually like the Bad Gal eyeliner, like most other bloggers I got it free with Glamour (I think it was)-what do you all use if you think this is not too great?I'd be interested in your recs.

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  41. I LOVE how you've paired the leather biker look with the floaty, girly maxi dress. Mixing fashion styles up is the best part of fashion, I think - staying in the box can be so boring!
    xxx

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  42. Now that is a total treasure jacket! and I love this look!

    Most worn item... hmmm... I have many! I always say one of the advantages of getting older is that you end up with so many cool and now genuine vintage items!
    ..but... i also have dresses, etc that are 50 years old so... hmmm...

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Lots of love, Vix