The Wonder of WAGSville

It would have been my mum's birthday today and rather than allow me to sit at home moping, my lovely friend Liz took the day off work and so that we could spend a day doing what Mum loved, charity shopping and daytime drinking.

We visited Sutton Coldfield, an affluent suburb of Birmingham and home to many of Aston Villa's footballers. Needless to say the charity shops are packed with a combination of the labels beloved by the British middle-classes (Per Una, Jaeger, Laura Ashley and Jigsaw) and the bling associated with the wannabes (Morgan, Miss Sixty, Jane Norman plus fake Gucci, LV and Fendi).

As is usually the way with wealthier suburbs the volunteers know their labels and the goods are priced accordingly but we did score one or two gems including this beautiful vintage Jean Varon evening gown. Bizzarely not only was it my size but Jean Varon was the label my Mum adored when I was a little girl, it's almost as if she was smiling down on me.

Fantastic value? £4.99 for the best of British Youthquake designers, I should blooming say so.

The dress is black satin with a boned bustier and a black chiffon overdress which buttons at the cuff and back. 

Now I just need a posh do to attend.