Alloha from the Black Country

 
Despite the promising start, within minutes of setting off for this morning's car boot sale the heavens opened and we had to turn back. Deprived of our regular Thursday morning bargain fix we headed to nearby West Bromwich for a charity shopping session instead.

Being a down-at-heel area the charities really appreciate everything they're given and the shops are always crammed with stock. To my trained eye I can usually tell at a glance whether there's anything to my tastes but here I have to manually rifle through each and every rail in search of hidden treasure. As, like the rest of the Black Country, it's a town of deprivation and high unemployment, prices are low and there's even a couple of clearance shops where donated stock that hasn't sold in other branches gets marked down to under £2 for a speedy sale.

Here's what I got:

 How I love these insane Bronx sandals (£2.99). I hope it'll be dry enough to wear them at Glastonbury.

A cute 1970's St Michael seersucker A-Line skirt (£1.50), I remember my Mum having one of these .

The books were reduced from 50p each (already cheap) to 3 for a £1, so it seemed rude not to snaffle a pile. After the awesomeness that was Drop City, TC Boyle is my new favourite. I read Douglas Coupland's Generation X years ago, it's well worth revisiting.

Vintage Brutus denim shirt for Jon (£3).

1960's British-made Josam ruffled blouse in sparkly silver lurex (£1)

1970's Liza Peta pussy bow wool dress, 1960's paisley print linen leisure shirt and a 1960's Tricel rose print shift dress (£1.50 each)

Jon says I've got too many pairs of vintage sunglasses so he's bagged these vintage tortoiseshell Ray-Bans (£2.99) for himself, the cheeky monkey.

An ancient PIFCO electric tie press with the original Bakelite plug still attached (50p). I have an inherent weakness for vintage grooming products.

A straw bucket hat, made in Mexico, with appliqued butterflies. I think the lady thought I was mad for liking it so she insisted on giving it to me for free.  

These festival-friendly fringed shorts and the purple suede bolero jacket were both off the £1 rail. I'm not usually that keen on the Eighties but couldn't resist either.

Vintage Hawaiian mini dress worn with fringed suede jerkin (£9, local secondhand shop), clog sandals, vintage tooled leather handbag (50p, Car boot sale), handmade hair flower and a 1970's Viking ship pendant (99p, charity shop)

My favourite find? This 1960's mini dress by Shannon Marie of Honolulu, bought for £1.99. From Hawaii to West Brom, how bizarre!

PS My fabulous friend, the Comtesse received her swap parcel today. Look how gorgeous she looks!