A riot? A stampede more like.
When I picked this vintage wool cape up from a rail in the West Bromwich branch of the British Heart Foundation earlier my access to the till was instantly blocked by a mass of Black Country grannies asking if I was sure I wanted it and if they could just have a quick look before I bought it.
Even the sob story of how one of them was disabled and didn't get out much failed to rouse my sympathy. By the law of the charity shop I'd spotted it first and therefore it was mine. The volunteer took an age to relieve me of my £5.99 before I could stuff my new find into a tote bag and leave a crowd of devastated pensioners in my wake.
We're off to a dinner party this evening so just time to flick through this wonderful book that the lovely That's Not My Age sent me after I posted a picture of my 13 year-old self in a Lee Bender jumpsuit on Tuesday's blog post.
love that bag! what a nice cape
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to picture a pensioner wearing that lovely cape, and can't manage it without cracking a smile! x
ReplyDeleteWow. What an absolute gem Vix!
ReplyDeleteWow gorgeous, definitely would have been wasted on the pensioners. :) Glad it didn't resort to violence.
ReplyDeletexx
A truly wonderful find, I wouldn't have given in to the grannies either, haven't they ever heard of finders keepers?
ReplyDeleteI can imagine you will be the talk of the afternoon tea! xxx
How lovely you wear a cape always so beautiful..What would pensioners want it for..they couldnt pull it off... I cant not picture them wearing either... I love houw your wearing more eyeshadow lately mamas..and a matching england bag to hold all your charms...i think capes are magical.. I want a cape like morgana on merlin.
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine many pensioners carrying this off. Nah. Great bag. I paid a lotta dosh for my 'made in England' Owen Barry bag. Could just have gone to the charity shop. Boo.
ReplyDeleteWhat footwear do you have on? Looks as if it might be groovy. We need to know.
That made me laugh!
ReplyDeleteHave fun at your party...
Lovely cape too.
That cape is wonderful on you and, yes it is finders-keepers in the Law of the Charity Shop/Jumble Sale/Car Boot etc. I have been on the other side before though - that horrible feeling when you glimpse something, can't quite get to it in time and someone else picks it up and puts it over their arm...aaargh! You win some you lose some, eh? That cape was meant to be yours! Have a lovely evening.
ReplyDeleteGo Vix, I bet you were delighted to spot that one! Fancy the grannies trying to relieve you of it, cheeky old beggars. I have had people ask me if I am planning on buying something I have in my hand before, and I think to myself, what did they think I was going to do with it, just transport it around the shop and put it down somewhere else just for fun? Odd.
ReplyDeleteKandi x
Cheeky old devils! Lol! Good on you for not being relieved of it!!
ReplyDeleteOh - that is WONDERFUL!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the story (the charity shop ladies here would deffo have legged it out of the backroom gleefully telling me that I'd HAVE buy something like this if they had one come in - I'd have matching cape and hair lol). It's just beautiful and you look lovely in it :)
What a fabulous cape! I would kill for a cape like that, you're lucky you made it out of that charity sale alive. Your purse is also a great deal, I love scoring neat finds at thrift stores and the like. Your style is amazing! I love your outlook on life, your about-me column is fantastic. http://thearcenciel.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThey're just as bad as they are at jumble sales then. Don't they know the rules of finders keepers, cheeky mares x
ReplyDeleteLOL,what a hilarious tale, I can imagine the scenario of you leaving them all speechless and wondering how you managed to get out the shop with the cape!! It looks fab and the book TNMA sent you is a wonderful gift indeed, wishing you a lovely evening! xx
ReplyDeleteSuits you really well! I find that story of the pensioners fighting over it funny for some reason.
ReplyDeleteGosh yes ! this Granny /pentioner is green with envy your cape is lovely , ..love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteFantastic Cape Vix! Have a great night xxx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, and the cape's not bad either ;-)! That's definitely one of my fave finds of yours. Can't believe you got out of there alive! I'm watching a red check cape or ebay at the moment, but I'm sure it'll go for way more than I want to pay, they usually do.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep a look out for that book, it looks really interesting. Did you see the last episode of BBC1's Turn Back Time: The High Street (actually I think you were probably in India when it was on)? Anyway, THE Lee Bender was brought in to advise Gill the dressmaker how to sell the clothing in her 70s boutique. I think you'd really like the episode in general if you get a chance to watch it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wlgk6
You look radiant and the cape is amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteYikes you are heartless in your quest for a bargain! I can't imagine anyone let alone disabled pensioners carrying off that cape as well as you do!
ReplyDeleteHahaha cape wars with grannies - that it tops!
ReplyDeletexxx
Haha!!! I trust you ... I could totally use that cape in this chilly winters in Delhi! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it suits you a lot more than it would of them :D
ReplyDeleteLOVE that bag!!
Hope your having a great evening :D
xXx
Your post made me smile. A lot. I can't imagine a bunch of pensioners fighting you for the cape. It is a gorgeous cape though and the colour really suits you.
ReplyDeleteCarol x
www.mystylisms.blogspot.com
if you'd have let go that'd have been the last you ever saw of it!
ReplyDeleteThat is a truly WONDERFUL cape!!! Such a gorgeous colour! And I am gobsmacked at the price! This was a very funny story - I can just imagine you fighting off the grannies to the till.
ReplyDeleteSo funny, the same thing has happened to me a few times when getting a really interesting item in the charity shops.
ReplyDeleteYou look fantastic beyond words. That cape is to die for, ands the bag a killer .
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Fantastic cape - you'll look far better in it than any granny, you did right to hold onto it!
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful as always Vix and something is different... your hair?
ReplyDeleteAnd please give us a look at your shoes - the little peek of tow looks very interesting!
Sarah xxx
Haha Vix, your story with grannies actually made me laugh while reading it! What great lines! Yes, as far as the charity shop rules, I think they should have it like legally or something up above the entry door so everyone that comes sees it straight away! :)
ReplyDeleteThat cape is Aaaaaamazing!
ReplyDeleteYou're fortunate I wasn't among the crowd of pensioners that day! This is just about the straw that broke THIS camel's back and send me back to the thrift stores. (I've been unusually absent the past 2 months...)
ReplyDeleteI can see how they were trying anything! Good on you - that is the law of charity shopping. I am totally inspired by that shade of purple with red. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeletexx Comtesse xx
What a beautiful cape! So jealous of you :) x
ReplyDeleteThe cape is "full" of drama and it looks very dramatic on you.
ReplyDeleteThe cape is incredible! Gorgeous frogging detail and i love that colour on a dark haired girl
ReplyDeleteI wish our local charity were better, there is so much h&m and primark at present
Hope you're having a lovely weekend Vix
x
Hahaha I laughed when I read this. I could just imagine the look upon the old grannies faces as your turned your nose up to them and walked off to the counter. I'd imagine their faces scrunched up like prunes at the audacity of the younger generation.
ReplyDeleteIt bugs me when old people think they have some kind of right of way over younger people because they're old! I say 'Move on over old woman you've had your time in the lime light!'
The cape looks wonderful on you! I can imagine it keeping you nice and snug on cold festival nights. xxx
gorgeous cape, and good that it blogs to you - just cannot imagine pensiores wearing it!
ReplyDeleteYes!!!! I can just imagine the envy in their eyes as they watched you prance out with your gorgeous cape, hehe! Victory! Go girl! It's amazing, i love the colour. And the bag is sweet as well!
ReplyDeleteXox Claire
OMG...love the cape and stuff the grannies and their probably well rehersed sob stories! Well done for sticking to your guns x
ReplyDeleteFunny story, but...
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that maybe we shouldn't be laughing too much at the grannies for wanting that cape. For some of us, being a grannie isn't too terribly far away (20, 30 years goes by in a blink of an eye) - and I'd hate to think that we stop wanting to wear beautiful things when we get past a certain age.
Vix, I will bet that you will still look gorgeous in that cape when you are a grannie.
Ah thanks for the mention, glad you're enjoying the book - and that bag is gorgeous. I've got an old seventies suede bag somewhere, must dig it out.
ReplyDeleteThat cape is fantastic, I do love your tales of the Black Country Grannies
ReplyDeleteOh excellent! I have that book on my Amazon wishlist, along with about a million others. So glad you elbowed the grannies out of the way to get that cloak, it is so Stevie Nicks.
ReplyDeleteHa, glad you didn't let the Black Country grannies get the better of you Vix! That is a gorgeous cape and you look great.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed catching on your latest posts. I loved the one you did on your mother's jewelery and I adored the photos of your family. You come from a long line of beautiful women. How wonderful to have such beautiful vintage pieces with personal meaning to them.
Hope you are enjoying your day!
xo, Bonnie
Love your presentation! I can totally relate to it. I hate blending in, I'm often told I'm ridiculous, I'm often stared but it's always me who is the most original in the gang :) You have such a pretty face, I'm happy I found your blog!
ReplyDeleteThis outfit is very close to my heart with the long coat.
I have a fashionblog too, check it out and if you want we can follow eachother ;) XOXO Lidia
www.thegirlbehindthefashionmask.blogspot.com
that cape is fab. Your story of the pensioners made me laugh. I made the mistake once of putting down a bag I had found whilst looking through a rail and this old dear swiped it! Before I realised she was at the paying for it! The bag was by my feet so clearly I was going to buy it!! I just had to watch her pay and walk out with it! Big lesson learned that day! I also like to see a made in England label too! x
ReplyDeleteTough crowd! We have some ninja shopping nannas round here too... one stooped to saying snidely to me 'are you SURE you'll fit in that, it's 8-10' miaow! I crisply sad 'yes, but if it's too tight I'll re-donate it, and the RSPCA will end up with more money!'
ReplyDeleteI think you definately pull it off better than the old dears would! Think its funny they were trying to get it off you, the rules of charity shopping are great haha! :)
ReplyDeleteANYONE CAN SEE... THAT "THE BEAUTIFUL CAPE" WAS MEANT TO BE YOURS!
ReplyDeleteIT FITS YOU SO BEAUTIFULLY!
DEBBIE MOSS
Were the grannies like, "Yow dow want that, dow ya luv?" I have been looking and looking for a vintage cape for ages! I'm soooo jealous! Emma
ReplyDeletelooking really lovely here! what a great find!
ReplyDeleteOlivia x
www.something-like-roses.blogspot.com
Amazing cape, no wonder the lady didn't want you too have it!!!
ReplyDeleteHannah xx
Vix - the grannies have it in for you. Be careful, they might gang up and wait for you in a dark street corner to relieve you of your finds. And what finds they are! Love, love, love the colour combo! xxx
ReplyDeletehaha I love stories like this :-) The tension of safe gaurding you things in charity shops is very strong, you just cannot take the risk!
ReplyDeleteThe cloak is brilliant, far better you had it!
That coat is amazing! The colour is just perfect. It looks really dramatic on you. xx
ReplyDeleteDear Vix, you are brilliant, I'm so glad you got the cape - it's fabulous!!! Love, C xx
ReplyDeleteDearest Vix, you're brilliant! That's so funny! I'm glad you got it - it's fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThe Lee Bender book looks great too. Love C xx
What a yummy cape!
ReplyDeleteI just sneaked a coat from Goodwill
( i'm not supposed to be buying anything)
and it reminds me of you!!!!
can't wait tto wear it!
xXx
reva
Ha! I love whipping thrift store finds out from under the unsuspecting eyes of other hunters. I picked up a pack of 3 floral Fossil make up bags, still wrapped in their original bow with the retail tag still on them for a fiver. When I brought them to the till the volunteer looked at me forlornly saying "I just put those out" or in other words "I hid those ever so slightly so I could buy them at the end of the day and you found them!". Mwahahaha! Loving that cape - great colour :)
ReplyDeleteI love this cape, and the thought of you clutching it tightly against the wrath of the grumpy grannies does make me smilE! xxx
ReplyDeleteThat cape was made for you and no granny will come between you two!
ReplyDeleteOh wow Vix... Goddess of the Vintage... dressed in robes of wine... you look so magnificent.
I am so so sorry I haven't been commenting. I have missed out on so much but I have been visiting, just silent... I am experiencing a communication lethargy at the moment! Not even returning emails! I need to spend a day to read and comment... it's after 1am here but I had to come over and say Hello my darling Vix... I hope you're well...xo
Nothing worse than a pack of pensioners going in for the kill! Superb buy, gorgeous colour ... :0)
ReplyDeleteShirl xxx
so true about the "made in england" vintage tag. love the flag to be precise... the old reeboks are hard to find these days but haven't given up on the t-shirts. they are classic! btw, love the red suede...
ReplyDeletethat cape is gorgeous!! great buy!
ReplyDelete