Thursday 14 October 2010

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.

58 comments:

  1. Oh I wish I'd have known you were coming over this way! It would have given me a much needed lift to see you. Let me know if you fancy another trip over and we'll have another charity shop adventure of our own. I love the Cancer Research shop at Mere Green - super posh! Lovely dress! Lynda xxx

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  2. Ohhh that dress is gorgeous. Nice to see a good view of those lovely patchwork curtains that you made too. Hope today went ok, birthday's and anniversaries are always hard when we lose someone close, and none more so than the first one following the loss. Thinking of you. xxx

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  3. Ha! I grew up in Sutton - although I'm far from a typical resident! I went to school near Mere Green too! Great post as always. Bx

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  4. awww you're absolutely stunning in that Jean Varon gown Vix! What a deal and lovely that it was your mums favourite designer, t'was meant to be.
    And it was your mums birthday today...mine was yest and my friends today, obv she must have been an awesome wonderful, us librans usually are!!
    xx

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  5. Definitely meant to be :) It's an absolutely glorious dress and it looks as if it was made for you. Just beautiful.

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  6. O,sweetheart,you make your Mama smile down on you EVERYDAY!!Gorgeous gown,and you look simply divine in it!Fantastic value indeed.LOVE it!!
    I notice you are scoring quite a bit of black lately!?Funny how patterns develop and then change!
    Those curtains are so amazing!
    LOVE Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  7. Vix you look stunning and I'm jealous of that dress. I want it!!!

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  8. Oh Vix, this dress looks SO FABULOUS on you. I'm sure your mum would be so proud how you spend 'her day' and I don't think you need to go anywhere. It's a special dress for a special day, no matter where you are! xxx

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  9. The dress looks stunning - and where are those fabulous curtains from?

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  10. What a Score!
    Vintage Vixen 1 - Aston Villa 0

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  11. That's absolutely beautiful. Glad you showed the back view because that's fabulous too.

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  12. What a touching story. Good for you for celebrating your Mum's birthday as she would have done and you've done her proud too. Jean Varon for a fiver, blimes! And I can't get over how perfectly it fits and suits you - as if it was made just for you! Stunning result xxxx

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  13. That dress is perfect on you, what a find. Glad you found your way through today, bless you. I couldn't take my eyes off your curtains too they are stunning!
    Hugs xoxo Kandi x

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  14. That's very nice of your friend Liz to spend the day with you. Def meant to be finding that dress. It looks stunning on you! xx

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  15. Love that dress. I would love to find one. Youre so lucky to find it! Yes a present on a sad day x

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  16. ohh this is such an intriguing and gorgeous dress! it looks great on you!

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  17. I think you're right, your mumma must have had her eye on that dress for you :)

    So elegant!

    xx Claire

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  18. That dress is so so gorgeous, I am so jealous. And well done for doing something positive today. Well, it looks like some wags do have a modicum of taste afterall! x

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  19. That dress is absolutely stunning! I am simply green with envy!! Such a bargain, your mum would be immensely proud of how gorgeous you look too.x

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  20. Your mum was definitely with you today:). It's such a beautiful dress and you look utterly stunning in it. I love how the sleeves have quite a bit of volume then are narrow at the wrist. Your rings - yummy:). Hey and your curtains are up - I'm delirious - so voluminous and drapey - I LOVE patchwork! These pics are beaut girl! xoxo

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  21. Beautiful dress - never mind saving it for fancy!

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  22. this gown looks somstunning on you.
    good idea to spend your mum's bd like this...

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com/

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  23. Wow, that dress is so bloody beautiful! You were lucky to find in in the British Heart Foundation as well, they frown on vintage and prefer to be just another high street shop. But I guess you know that.

    xxx

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  24. Dear Vix, you look absolutely beautiful! What a gorgeous dress, it was made for you. I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding somewhere to wear it.

    I'm glad you had a good day and your friend was there to cheer you up, and I'm sure your mum would have loved your new dress too xx

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  25. It's a beautiful dress - looks amazing on you. What a lovely way to remember your Mum too on her birthday. Hope you're doing okay x x x x x

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  26. A lovely dress and a fitting way to spend the day in memory of your mum xxx

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  27. What a gorgeous dress - love, love..So thoughtful of ur friend to spend the day with you. I am sure you had a great time and fun remembering ur mom..

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  28. Happy birthday to your mum :)
    The dress is amazingamazingamazing times 35454. Really. Amazing.

    (Who needs a posh do? Wear it to the pub!)

    x x x x

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  29. You look absolutely stunning in that gown and I'm sure your Mum is shining down on you with great pride in what a beautiful daughter she has! That dress was meant for you and I'm sure you don't need a posh do to show it off ;-)

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  30. You look stunning in that dress. Fits you like a dream. And much love to you today!

    heart: Kimberellie

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  31. You look absolutely amazing in that dress - I'm certain your Mum would approve :)

    www.heart-shaped-bruise.blogspot.com

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  32. Ooooh, I like this, dramatic and chic!:D

    ***** Marie *****
    allthingsmarie.com

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  33. Ah, the Mighty John Bates. I knew it was Varon as soon as I saw the top pic but I've never seen this design in a maxi before so that's terrific!

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  34. Dear Vix,
    Thank heavens for Liz, I’m so glad you girls were able to make a rather sombre day into a day of joyful remembrance, I don’t think mummy would have wanted it any other way my dear.
    You so deserved to find that dress and in my humble opinion it’s a definite keeper, it looks as if tailor-made for you...STUNNING!
    I’ve got two Jean Varon frocks but neither one is as gorgeous as this, what an awesome bargain :)
    Lot's of love,
    Jem
    ...xXx

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  35. I know your Mum is so proud of you :)
    You are one of my most inspiring ladies.
    My blog-o-versary is in November (i thought it was Oct, duh...)
    And am hoping to get an interview for it from you ~ is that still oK? Also, What size are your feet/ dress size? I am soon to be sending a parcel to you and would like to add a few things as well as the clogs :)
    Love, Reva xxx

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  36. Hi there-what a special way to mark the day, finding that black Jean Varon dress was so meant to be for you, its stunning and you look gorgeous my dear! Hope you have a great weekend too x

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  37. That is a gorgeous dress, beautiful.
    Sure you could pull it off down the pub with style. :)

    xx

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  38. Gorgeous dress. But slightly disappointed about the lack of info re the daytime drinking - was it fun?!

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  39. Wonderful dress. Day time drinking: very naughty, but what fun lol!

    Shirl xxx

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  40. Wow, what a wonderful, wonderful dress.So stunning!!!!
    I must say that I love your curtains, too.They make a lovely backgroud for your beautiful dress.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  41. WOWser - gorgeous dress and Jean Varon too. Your Mum was definitely with you and so glad you had a good day despite the reason xxx

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  42. This dress is so special, it is so stunning and fits you perfectly. What a wonderful and appropriate find, it must really mean a lot to you xx

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  43. I am probably the same age as your mum....she and I could have a great day out when I come to England!

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  44. 4.99 for Jean Varon, that is a super bargain! And it is lovely to boot. Glad you spent the day doing something nice x

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  45. Wow, gorgeous! And a perfect fit too! Our local version of that charity shop def does not have stuff at that price, sigh :)

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  46. That is fantastic value! And I think you should create that posh do! Don't wait for it to come to you :-)
    xxx

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  47. Hi Vix, I know you've shown us your curtains before but, and maybe it's the time of day, but they look spectacular! I love them.

    You look gorgeous in that beautiful dress! You should wear it to your next pub visit! Happy birthday to your mom,I think you were channeling each other. Maybe you could tell us a little about her sometime.

    ~Bonnie

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  48. What a brilliant find. That dress is gorgeous and fits you like a dream. Your mam was definitely looking out for you! x

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  49. Ooh, that dress is lovely!! I'm off to Sutton tomorrow to go to a Vintage Fair, hopefully I can find a good bargain too, if not then I hope the charity shops are open on a Sunday ;-) xx

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  50. Stunning dress - what a fab find. Your friend Liz sounds lovely, very thoughtful. xx
    http://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/

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  51. What an amazing gown, and I feel a frisson because it fits you so well and it was your mum's adored designer. If no posh do's are forthcoming appropriate for the dress, you could always host a glamorous dinner party...that dress calls for lots of candles and yummy wine...

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  52. I love that dress. AND the curtains!

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  53. GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Goddess.
    ...and the 6th pic is Cher for sure!

    Your mum was 'with' you.

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  54. That dress was definately meant to be for you!

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Lots of love, Vix