Bostin' Black Country Bargains

I spent today shopping in the Black Country with my oldest friend, Liz. Some girls like a gentile day out with stops for tea and cake interdispersed with trying-on sessions in high street shops but that's not for me. I prefer chips and beer to Earl Grey and fairy cakes and chain stores bore the pants off me. 

My idea of a perfect day out is rummaging for vintage bargains in charity shops and a lazy JD Wetherspoons' lunch picking over your purchases with an audience of all-day drinkers decorated with spider's web face tattooes and love and hate inked on to their knuckles. Our charity shops are rough and ready, often staffed by young offenders on Community Service and because local unemployment is so high, donations are thin on the ground and everything gets put out on the shop floor. There's no wooden coat hangers, changing rooms or fancy vintage rails and expect a gem to be grappled from your hands if you're not quite quick enough.

Don't let that put you off, it's great here, bostin' in fact.

Here's what I got:

This 1970's Madiera embroidered shopping bag came in very handy for carrying my purchases home.  (Acorns Hospice £1.95)

 This Jaeger cropped wool jacket is a lovely shade of vibrant coral and is immaculate.
(£2 from Cancer Research)

I do love a vintage label especially a British-made one.

A 1980's Laura Ashley cord waistcoat

Mango herringbone wool shorts

Jon loves mod style and was very happy with this 1960's Tootal smoking jacket (£1.99 from Banardos). This will add a touch of class when he's smoking his roll-ups on the doorstep.

"All Wool, Made In England" windowpane check ladies tailored jacket. Aren't the lapels splendid?

This vintage trevira pinstriped blazer looks fab on, it's a skinny fit with huge lapels and a label to die for:

I love it. He reminds me of John Lennon.

I nearly came to blows with a jealous granny over this 1970's Rajasthani velvet mirrored waistcoat priced at £2 but I came away triumphant. 

A cute little evening bag, just big enough for my lipstick and purse.

I'm not a massive 1980's fan but this Gloria Vanderbilt flannel midi skirt won me over. It's a gorgeous shade of jade green and still has it's original tag.

Total spend : £17.80 which includes chips, a shared bottle of house Chardonnay in Wetherspoons and a day return on the bus. Who says a day spent shopping has to be bank busting?

English Lady jacket (inherited) Len Vogue of Melbourne maxi (The fabulous Sarah), 1960's leather boots (British Heart Foundation £4.99), Silk bird print headscarf (Local vintage shop £1)

Off to order an Indian home delivery and crack open the Havana Club. Have a lovely evening.