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| Striped acrylic mini worn with Schuh boots (£5, local market stall) and vintage statement pendant from the wonderful Ivy Black. |
Finding cheap, fabulous vintage clothes on eBay can be like queuing for a bus, wait for ages and then they turn up altogether.
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| Jon's favourite, a striped polyester two piece. |
Whilst aimlessly surfing the net on Saturday afternoon I came across a listing for a "Bag of 1970's women's clothes, some Chelsea Girl, all small sizes" someone had found stowed away in their mother's loft, left over from their youth, and needless to say I was beside myself with excitement.
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| Smocked polyester mini dress |
A cheeky snipe later and by the time I reached the pub they were mine.
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| Chelsea Girl navy pure cotton striped dress |
Fast fashion was unheard of when I was a teen, we had new clothes once a year for birthdays and the rest came from charity shops and jumble sales. If we wanted something special for the school disco we frantically saved our pocket money and wore our treasured clothes until they fell to bits. I'm amazed this bundle is in such good condition, the lady who owned them must have really looked after them.
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| Michael Sinclair, London smocked cotton mini worn with Topshop leather clogs (£5, 2010 sale) |
Chelsea Girl was founded in 1965 and was Britain's first fashion boutique chain. I'd spend many a Saturday afternoon flicking through the rails with my friends coveting the latest fashions. In 1988 by the time I was working full-time and able to afford to shop there it closed down and re-opened as River Island.
The parcel arrived today whilst I was chatting to my darling Helga on Skype so she shared my excitement when I ripped the bag open.
A-Line skirts, Highlight flared jeans and floral dresses.
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| Puff sleeved ditsy print polyester dress (no label) |
They don't make them like they used to.
My favourite is a toss up between this navy blue dress (below) and the yellow stripey one.
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| Chelsea Girl button-thru' cotton dress worn with Steve Madden sandals (£2, car boot sale) and a vintage silk scarf (25p, car boot sale) |
I bet I won't find anything on eBay again for months.
Oh my god Vix, I love it all! Especially the Michael Sinclair smock & the Chelsea Girl button-thru' cotton dress!
ReplyDeleteWow! You constantly look amazing!
Much love to you :) x
Holy moly this is the mother load of all buys!!!! These are all kinds of awesomeness. I think my fav is also the yellow stripped mini dress, but that pink skirt looks pretty adorable too. I am totally loving the puffed sleeves on you so girlie!
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful my dear!
What a wonderful haul Vix! I bet you got them for an absolute steal as well!
ReplyDeleteFast fashion is quite a recent thing I think; when I was a girl I also only got clothes for birthdays or things mum had made, or as gifts. I remember once having a satin rara skirt and matching waistcoat specially made for me for a party-I chose the fabric myself and felt so grown up in it. I wore that outfit until it fell apart; the joy of proper, loved clothes is something that has stayed with me.
You look so beautiful in every picture. Lovely catwalk show :)
Love Amie xxxxx
Wow - it's an eBay avalanche! Did you know they relaunched Chelsea Girl recently?
ReplyDeleteLovely dresses. The somck one is gorgeous. Blimey, Chelsea Girl takes me right back. x
ReplyDeleteI am greeeen with envy, those Chelsea Girl frocks are perfect. Must have been soo exciting to open that parcel hun. xxx
ReplyDeleteWOAH! That's some serious awesome stuff you grabbed! Love the high waist shorts on you a lot!
ReplyDelete♡ from © tanvii.com
Those skirts make me think "I haven't worn a skirt for ages. I should wear a skirt."
ReplyDelete*0*
What a find!
OMG Vicky I so want that ditsy puff sleeve dress its so adorable! I love it so much and it looks stunning on you,. I love your boots too they are similar(ish) to the ones I just bought.
ReplyDeleteI love all of your dresses in this post to be honest and you look fab in them all.
I so wish I could find things like that at car boots and sales!
I may be going to a car boot on Sunday I am so hoping it will be filled with good things like what you get xx
Hi my dear-wowser what a truly gorgeous find, no wonder you are so excited, I adore vintage Chelsea Girl and you certainly scored very nice quality pieces which are forever timeless in style, well done indeed you lucky girl!! xxx
ReplyDeletePS-thanks so much for the tip on logging in, it was what you said-as soon as I unchecked the box I could leave comments even on internet explorer-you are not only a vintage queen, you're a techno wiz too!! xxx
Lovely lovely haul. Ye gads, the mention of Chelsea Girl takes me back to my teenage years in the 1970s, I looooved Chelsea Girl clothes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous bargain, I love the diagonal striped dress, and (surprisingly for me) the brown 2 piece.
ReplyDeleteCHEERS!
That's a fantastic haul - you definitely have an advantage when finding clothes being so slim! Mind you, I did win 4 or 5 dresses from the same seller for about £1 a piece a while back, so it's not all bad.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll find some more items soon though x
What a fantastic haul. I bet you had a really good time trying everything on with everything such a perfect fit for you. I love the yellow mini in the first picture - so summery.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
What a fabulous stash, and they fit you perfectly. I remember Chelsea Girl so well. (If Jons not ordered those curtain rails please note I had to send mine back as they've changed suppliers, the glider holes run north to south not east to west like they used to so the curtain hooks go in side ways not hang down, if you know what I mean.App no-ones noticed until I rang them up???so they say!) Just to warn you before ordering
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure trove - it looks like they were made for you. I remember Chelsea Girl from the late 70s too.
ReplyDeleteSorry I posted that last comment using my husband's email!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW! What an amazing find. I'm sure the lady who treasured them and kept them would be happy to know they'd found such an appreciative home.
ReplyDeleteThese pieces are so pretty!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I remember being dragged (literally) around Chelsea girl every Saturday afternoon with my mum in the 80s. Those are fab finds! Xx
ReplyDeleteWowza!! You hit the jackpot!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you modelled them all for us! They fit you like a glove!
The previous owner must have been a groovy chic in her youth!
My favourite has to be then Chelsea Girl navy pure cotton striped dress - those pointed button rolled sleeves are so awesome!
The yellow striped mini does look rather stunning with those Schuh shoes!
What a find! xxx
Wow those outfits are amazing! I love the second outfit x
ReplyDeleteOoh I used to love Chelsea Girl - can remember going in there lots with my mum. Great finds, I never have any luck with clothes on Ebay, every single thing I've brought has been a bit pants really or just a total impulse that I've regretted. I love Ebay for everything else though! x
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely bundle Vix, some great dresses. I remember Chelsea Girl from going in there with my Mam when I was a little girl.
ReplyDeleteDx
Hi Vix, the free daysaver was in with the gumpf that comes with the chronicle.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are the Chelsea Girl outfits. When I was younger I thought it looked so cool with its neon red sign. It seemed like a massive shop as well, I can remember it reopening as River island. I havent been in there for years now. I remember the C&A opening , think in 1982 and I had a free baseball cap with the logo on it.
ReplyDeleteI remember Chelsea Girl, but I got to 'shopping' age just as it changed to River Island. Where I do scour the sale rails to this very day! I can't believe you got that bag - all super!
ReplyDeleteGood grief what fantastic haul!
ReplyDeleteYou look great in all of them but I think I like the first one the best.
like you said these things are a little like buses, you either have nothing or masses!
X x
Wow, you've done well, each one looks like a little gem. I especially love the brown smocked dress and the striped one with those stickey out sleeves. Such an amazing haul and a lucky one too!
ReplyDeleteGot to love a good ebay snipe, ive become a firm fan. Whats a great bundle of clothes, my fave has to be the blue cotton button through dress - love it with the scarf! Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteThe puff-sleeved dress and the two-piece are my favourites! Great find :)
ReplyDeleteI love them all but agree the yellow stripe is my favorite too! Lucky find...
ReplyDeleteChelsea Girl - oh how I love it! Pop music and fashion! I loved the Liverpool branch and then when we moved to Kenilwoth I discovered the Coventry branch - passion, love, lust all rolled together!
ReplyDeleteNever knew it changed to River Island, just wondered why it no longer existed!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHH!
ReplyDeleteThey're ALL do frigging fabulous!!!
I really like the two piece,but every piece is heavenly and they fit like a dream!!! It;s like xmas and b'day all in one! I LOVED being "there" as you opened the parcel-such FUN!
EEEEK!
Love you!!!
Helga xxxXXXxxx
Hello again!
ReplyDeleteWell that surely counts as a months gold digging! They're all such cute pretty shapes and the fact that they were all in the same bundle is so amazing! My fave is the navy dress =) (or the smoked floral brown one!)
It's too much to take in! At the moment, I'm with Jon on the favourite, followed closely by the puff sleeved dress. I wish my mum had kept all her clothes, then kept all mine.
ReplyDeleteI remember having to wait ages for stuff to be delivered from the catalogue, I was nearly in tears once when my turquoise stone-washed jeans didn't arrive in time for the disco. Another time I was gutted when my mum's friend broke her wrist and couldn't finish knitting me one of those jackets with loads of looped wool!
Isn't it great to be able to shop 24 hours now?
Wow these are amazing! Can't believ you found all these on eBay?? Love the vintage feel, but they still look current and on trend! Good find!
ReplyDeleteeighteengramsofglitter.blogspot.com
What an amazing stash! It's insane. I remember when we had those Schuh boots in the shop - they're nice ones. Anyway my dear, I hope you're well - nice to have a chance to stop by and I love the new header! :)
ReplyDeleteI love a seventies smock dress you look amazing in that little brown number.. I do love mini as a length xx
ReplyDeleteWow! They are all stunning. I loved Chelsea Girl too.
ReplyDeleteYou look bloody amazing in them all, it's hard to pick a favourite but I think the yellow mini. You are the perfect vintage size you're so lucky. Love you loads xx
I remember Chelsea Girl from back in the day - and doing a paper round to save up for clothes. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic find! I loved Chelsea Girl, my favourite school disco outfits came from there xxx
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy never to find anything on ebay again with that little lot!!
ReplyDeleteSome absolute fab items, and they all look gorgeous on you, I love the high waisted skirt and the two piece is fab.
xx
OMG what an amazing bundle of clothes i think i would have cried opening up all that and thinking of the lady herself saving up and what she wore each item to. I adore that twin piece its a beauty and fits you so well. And i love that cream dress and pink skirt to and also the look of the green flower dress. Wow you lucky lady..enjoy them all as i know you will do, dee xx
ReplyDeleteMy goodness - what a haul! Staggered your rails haven't also given way! Jon's fave is my fave too - I love the brown stripey skirt suit.
ReplyDeleteJon's favorite look is super cute! I think it's my fave as well. I also like the first dress, it's very summery and bright. Great clothes! http://thearcenciel.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI have a green version of the Michael Sinclair dress, it's one of my all time favourites. I need to find a new one because I'm definitely wearing it to death!! xx
ReplyDeleteDearest Vix,
ReplyDeleteA bundle of joy indeed, what a collection of utter vintage loveliness!
My fave is the Michael Sinclair one, I do have a very similar smocked one that I won on eBay ages ago. I think it's by the same maker but mine's a maxi.
I love winning bundles of stuff, especially when you don't really know how good the stuff is going to be, it's very exciting & I have to say that so far I've never been disappointed ;)
You scored very well there my dear & you model the dresses very beautifully too.
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx
Amazing bargains and I love how they are timeless. I heard that River Island has re-visited their Chelsea Girl archive and launched a small collection of Chelsea Girl clothes in-store. PS you look fab and I love the Schuh boots! xx
ReplyDeleteOoh good stuff! Jon's fave is mine too, altho I also love the navy stripe dress...and the skirts... ah too much awesomeness! :)
ReplyDeleteDear God what a treasure haul!! That striped dress, Jon's favourite, is my faveourite too! These were all made for you!
ReplyDeleteWow!! BTW, you look so really really young and cutesy in that navy dress! It's adorable!
ReplyDeleteOh wow VV that would be so awesome!!and you look so good in it all too.xxx
ReplyDeleteOooo, how cool, groovy dresses.
ReplyDeleteI love the stripey suit and navy blue button combo. you look like 50's ads flight attendant Mama.
Helita knows what to get a girl, love the skirts amor.
HOLY SHIZZAZ Vix!
ReplyDeleteWOW what a haul you got.
My favorites are:
- Striped acrylic mini
- Chelsea Girl navy pure cotton striped dress
- Michael Sinclair, London smocked cotton mini
- The floral dresses pictures with the flared jeans
Vix, that is one seriously fabulous treasure trove!
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing in all of the outfits, but I am reserving special love for the long-sleeved brown smock.
Ahh, Chelsea Girl, the haunt of my teenage years (never had much money though!)
What a score! It's like they were tucked away waiting just for you, they look so good. Love the new look of the blog, too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a score! I especially love the striped Chelsea Girl dress and the navy blue one.
ReplyDeleteThe post title definitely got my attention! You have hit the jackpot here--many excellent items. I think my fav would be the brown empire waist.
ReplyDeleteVix, I am so stunned I can barely speak! I can't even choose a favorite find because they are all gorgeous and in such wonderful shape. You hit the motherlode of fabulousness!
ReplyDeletexo, Bonnie
Vix,
ReplyDeleteI think the yellow striped dress with the big, cool-ass necklace and the absolutely yummy boots is one of my all time favorites!!!!!
I have been on the thrift-prowl for a similar stripey dress, too!
( I saw one on an other blogger, pink, i think, with a floral scarf ).
This style dress seems so universally flattering!
xXx
Reva
( Can you believe I found that sign!!!!) I was squealing with excitement!
Wow you really got lucky with this ebay buy!! I love so many of the pieces you got, but I'd have to say my favourite is the smocked brown flower print dress. so pretty :)
ReplyDeleteSo many amazing skirts and dresses! What a lucky girl you are. My favorite is the Michael Sinclair cotton mini and the leather clogs.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I didn't know that Chelsea Girl was the original River Island, they've relaunched the label CG instore recently! What a lovely parcel, my fave is the puff sleeve dress xxx
ReplyDeleteAmazing haul, I never find anything on ebay :(
ReplyDeleteI think I can just about remember Chelsea Girl, didn't realise it was re-named as River Island either!
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite has to be the Michael Sinclair cotton mini Vix, it's adorable !
I love finds like that......haven't found anything as fabulous as that striped mini!
ReplyDeleteWow, everything is awesome! My favourites are the button through navy and striped navy dresses, so perfect.
ReplyDeleteGreat lot! I agree the good, big bulk lots don't come up too often. I think I like the navy one the best, esp. how you've worn it with the scarf.xx.
ReplyDeleteoh my Vix i LOVE chelesa girl! I'm loving all of those outfits and finds! :D
ReplyDeleteJulia @ Retro Jules
P.S. just found out we got that house lot I was telling you about, the one with the jewellery, I'm so excited, woo hoo! Will hold off sending your parcel so I can include a few goodies from it for you.xx.
ReplyDeleteMy mum was a huge fan of chelsea girl, i so wish she'd kept her clothes for me!! She always tells me how she used to make alot of her own stuff, im trying hard to follow in her footsteps but the high street is just so tempting! Fabulous blog by the way! Ive only just found you!
ReplyDeletepinksugarnotes.blogspot.com
xx
You really hit the jackpot! I can't even decide which items I like the best. That striped two-piece has got to come close to being my favourite though.
ReplyDeleteYou are seriously the luckiest person in those things! Love everything and so gald its all in good condition!
ReplyDeleteI love them all! Em x
ReplyDeleteoh they are all fab - a true bundle of joy indeed.
ReplyDeletei must say when i read your title i freaked out a little, thought it was referring to something else!
and i think i like the stripey dresses best :) xx
you have a talent in shopping cheap clothes. in special pieces!
ReplyDeletethis is rare. you can look like kate moss with a bag full of money but it needs more to find those "lucky" pieces you do.
mostly i love the jewellery
Holy guacamole - what a frickin fabulous parcel! I love the two piece suit as well but I REALLY love the yellow chevron acrylic and the Chelsea Girl navy striped dresses. As always, you look incredible! Also the pendant in teh first pic is FAB!
ReplyDeleteLovesweetiedarling,
Sarah xxx
you really are the Queen of Vintage stuff! ;-) LOVE the first one - striped mini - i want one! x
ReplyDeleteThe final look is my favourite :)
ReplyDeleteWow, it must have been like Christmas! My favourite is the one Jon likes xx
ReplyDeleteJust amazing! I love the navy stripe one best.
ReplyDeleteWow! Jealous! You look fabulous in all of them, I can't even choose which is best. You find the most amazing stuff. L -x-
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll make awesome finds from ebay. Cool vintage stuff just wants to find their way to you :) I love that two piece. Stunning!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful) I love the one with the stripes))
ReplyDeletereally great finds, I absolutely love the brown smock dress!
ReplyDeleteA by far fabulous and well looked after stash of clothing, and most importantly a bit of a trip down memory lane for you xxx
ReplyDelete