Tuesday 22 November 2011

A Century Of Style In One Outfit


Earlier this week Lucy asked: How many eras/decades can you cram into one cohesive outfit? What a fab challenge. My heart may belong to psychedelia but I'll wear any period of clothing as long as it's second-hand and suits my style. To me slavishly dressing in the same bygone era is no different from being a slave to high street fashion or decorating your home in wall-to-wall Ikea. Mixing things up and being creative adds both depth and interest, allowing your true personality to shine through. 



What have we got here then? A 1960s Sambo by Samuel Sherman panne velvet maxi dress (£3, car boot sale) worn with a 1970s crimplene floral waistcoat (in a surprise parcel of Parisian loveliness from Elizabeth) and a 1920s Ottoman carpet bag (a family hand-me-down).




1960s felt hat (from Zoe) worn with a 1930s Liberty of London silk scarf (£2, car boot sale)




The carved wood ring was made by my Mum in the 1960s, the other two are modern junk pieces.




This rolled gold wristwatch was a gift from my Great-Grandparents to my Grandpa when he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1933. It has his name engraved on the back. Being a bit of a witch watches don't work on me so it's just decorative.




1980s brass bangles worn with another of Mum's 1960s carved wood rings, a 1970s Indian dress ring and a contemporary cocktail ring.




1950s copper leaf choker which was 50p from a church Christmas fair last weekend.




1903 Ruskin pottery cabochon (inherited).




Modern brass earrings bought in India from a women's refuge charity.




Victorian button boots (eBay, £2.20)



So we've got Victorian, Edwardian, 1920s & 1930s and the 1950s through until the present day (omitting the 1990s because the decade they were so lacking in style I spent the entire decade dressed like a 1970s Starsky & Hutch streetwalker). I'd like to say I've got a gas mask in my handbag to represent the 1940s but it's over the road in Dad's attic. 

76 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous outfit, Vix! I can't believe that that bag is in such good condition! Plus, I love your 80s bangles (naturally)! :)

    Jules
    Suddenly I See

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  2. Incredible! Stylish as always... I'm awed by your ability to put together such a great tribute to fashion history :-)

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  3. You seriously have been blowing me away with your awesome outfits!!!
    The hat...the gorgeous colors....perfection as always!!!

    Happy Tuesday sweets!

    http://www.statementsinfashion.net/2011/11/twitter-tuesday-with-love-to-keiko-lynn.html

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  4. "omitting the 1990s because the decade they were so lacking in style I spent the entire decade dressed like a 1970s Starsky & Hutch streetwalker..."

    Words and an image for which you are adorable, Vix!

    Fhi x

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  5. mwhaahahaha, a gas mask in your bag would be absolutely perfect!!, I think you're wonderful putting together an outfit with different pieces from different decades and make them work with your own style!
    And love your black velvet maxi with all the pretty accessories, specially your inherited pieces!!
    besos

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  6. applause!!!!! Well done my friend.

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  7. Brilliant, you look stylish whatever era your items are from. But am I the only one who is imagining you in flared leggings and Buffalo boots or a floral slip dress over white t-shirt? I dare you ;-)

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  8. Thank-you Vix, this has been on my mind since I first found your blog and realised how many pre 1970's things you owned.
    This outfit must have thousands of stories to tell. Imagine the hands which have carefully touched the jewellery and buttons, the items the bag has stored, the journeys everything has been on.
    This outfit could fill a book with tales. The happiest ending - everything united and breathed fresh life into by Vix.

    I love the look you have created, you look immortal in it somehow. Everything fits together like a puzzle, without the hat or cabochon, it wouldn't be the same.

    I get so much enjoyment from seeing this, it feels better than a charity shop fix, and that's saying something!

    Lucy x

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  9. Good one Lakota - the 90's challenge!

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  10. LOVE LOVE this outfit!

    Amazing and really loving those victorian boots! Can't believe how many eras you have manage to get in. And they all look fab together.

    Well done Vix.


    MBB x

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  11. That watch is gorgeous Vix, so good that you're still making use of it. I always think you should use/wear/have our your family heirlooms rather then hiding them away and forgetting about them just to keep them safe. I think it's a far better way of remembering a person.

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  12. That is fabulous! Your heirlooms are just the most amazing treasures, and I love that you know the stories about them.

    The best thing to come out of my blogging experience thus far has been discovering people like you who love the treasures of the past. So many of the people I know in my day to day world can't wait to get rid of the old to make room for more new, mass produced, crap.

    xo, Anita

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  13. Only YOU could do this so so easily! Your jewelry and its stories are over-the-top in the best way possible.

    (I really liked the previous post. Actually, I was going to take pictures of our second bedroom that actually has many similarities to the room you were posing in. I think you'd see what I mean... I just didn't get around to the photos.)

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  14. O,my GAWD I think I'm almost rendered speechless by your fabulousness! I love every detail,especially that carpet bag!EEEEEEK! You really are a wonder,my darling twin.A frigging stylish queenly wonder! I don't doubt that if you put your mind to it,you could rock the 90's like no other!I adore and worship you!
    Love Helga
    xxxXXXxxx

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  15. Oh my god! What a wonderful outfit, shoes, bag, hat, rings, watch ... you ...so impressive.
    Thank you for this beautiful post!
    xx
    Pippy

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  16. Possibly more than a little bit in love with that bag!
    xo

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  17. Great idea and so beautifully executed

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  18. Brilliant! Very well done and totally agree about mixing things up.

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  19. What an interesting post! Amazing how you have whipped everything up into a personalised suit.

    I really like your point of furiously sticking to one era being the same as sticking to the high street, it's a bit robotic and insincere. I think that even though it comes naturally to some people, there is still a lot of creative energy and zest into truly expressing personal style and I think its brilliant that you can cast your net so widely!
    haha with that information I can now imagine a gas mask in the carpet bag.

    Couldn't you have just worn a massive 90's puffa jacket on the top, I'm sure you have one somewhere!
    But seriously, the did 90's have it's charms!

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  20. That surely is impressive! I love your hat and the boots are fab.

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  21. So many decades on one incredible stylish women!
    I love your mom's ring, the carpet bag and the Great-Grandpa watch.
    I think you are your family's collector as Jonathan in Everything Is Illuminated and your are very blessed to have such treasures from your past that can still be part of your present.
    With love,

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  22. The first thing that caught my eye was that flipping carpet bag! (My God it is absolutely gorgeous.)
    Now on to you... You look rather enchanting in this whole ensemble.
    I love that maxi and also your Grandfather's watch.
    The copper choker is quite lovely.

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  23. You look breathtakig.I love that dress.Your moms rings are too cool.Love your polish.I really love those boots too.What a fantastic outfit.xx

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  24. This is fantastic! i love how all the different decades work together xxx

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  25. The watch, the necklaces, and that fabulous bag I have just fallen in love with, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  26. Vix, this might just be my favourite outfit from you ever.

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  27. Challenge met! AND you look fab :)
    Karlene

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  28. Wow, you met and exceeded the challenge. That watch is a fab family heirloom and how talented your mum was, her rings is so cool. xx

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  29. Love that bag-the colours are still so vivid. Amazing!
    And the fact that your mum MADE those rings...wow!
    Wonderful mix.
    Z xx

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  30. I adore this styling- a waistcoat and maxi truly IS a 'timeless' look in that you can dress it with styles from any date and it looks fantastic. So very 'you', love it!

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  31. Challenge accepted and BLOWN outta da park folks!!!!!!!! You look so witchy and mystic I adore those bellicious sleeves and the felt hat YUM! I love your new vest and your bag is just lovely! You are gorgeous as always my dear!

    I couldn't agree more about mixing up old and new and different time periods. Starsky & Hutch would be stoked if you rode around with them.

    Tonsoflove~
    Krista

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  32. The print on this waistcoat is the perfect floral print - love the dark background. xx
    We Shop Therefore We Are

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  33. totally in love with the necklace... it's so gorgeous!

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  34. The hat and boots are awesome!

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  35. Sharp look! Have you ever done an entire post on your mother's carved wood rings? I'm interested.

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  36. Haha! Absolutely brilliant! I especially love how you've worked some wonderful family heirlooms and mementoes into this outfit, like the bag, the watch and your mum's ring.

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  37. What a challenge! but you've done well. I love that watch and the fact that its been in the family for so long is precious. I wear broken watches all the time. Just for looks.

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  38. Vixcita,
    I am blown away as usual by your marvelous styles..is there anything you cant do? te amo!
    I am really eyeing the carpet bag, gorgeous 50's necklace and grandpapa's watch.MaMas wooden rings are the coolest.
    luv ya!

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  39. I find it really impressive that you have all of this stuff on hand and can identify it.

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  40. You are so inspirating.
    Everything looks perfect together.

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  41. What an interesting challenge! And I love the hat, purse and watch!

    And sad but true about the 90s. The only good thing to come out of that era style-wise--in my opinion--was the grrrl thing, just because I'm a fan of little dresses and big boots.

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  42. What fun! And that Ruskin pottery brooch is lovely. When I visited the UK in the 80s and 90s, I snapped up every Ruskin and Ruskin-look-a-like piece of jewelry I could find.

    Thank you for another delightful and inspiring post.

    http://www.joyatri.com

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  43. Wow Vix......this post is so fabulous I don't even know where to begin! I so love the ring your mum made, the watch your accountant grandpa received (that watches don't work on witches made so laugh), your copper necklace.....just love reading your blog!

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  44. *LOVE* this whole post Vix and I totally agree with you about people that slave away to look like they are from a certain decade. You are quite lucky to inherit so many great pieces - I love the wooden rings your Mum made in the 1960's. So beautiful and unique.

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  45. That is so impressive and it all looks so good on you.

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  46. Vix, what a wonderful post, and what a beautiful outfit - so uniquely you!
    I think this sums you up perfectly - an appreciation of all eras of style, an eclectic eye for all things gorgeous, put together in a way which is so personal and beautiful.
    I love that you know where everything came from, the family pieces, your bargains, and the gifts - it's that Rain Man memory of yours again!
    Every item is lovely - impossible to single anything out - but most lovely of all is YOU! xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  47. I am in awe of your fabulousness. Those boots are so amazing.

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  48. Great outfit! Agree with you completely on not being a slave to a certain decade or era. Most days I like to be 50's, or 60's mod influenced but some days I like my 2010 skinny jeans and long wool cardi!

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  49. I keep saying to myself ... can your posts get any better? YES, YES, YES!!! blown away, as always !

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  50. fabulous! it takes true style, talent and imagination to put together and pull off an outfit like this.xxx.

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  51. I love this outfit SO much, it's all so very you and demonstrates perfectly why we should embrace every decade. This is an inspired mixture of looks. Xx

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  52. I love how you have mananged to incorporte the beauty of the different decades into one beautiful outfit.

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  53. What an amazing outfit, I particularly adore the carpet bag. I am starting to appreciate 90s fashion the further away it gets. And I regret giving away my old Spire Girls tee! xx

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  54. Wow - you've excelled yourself this time!!!! What a fantastic look you've pulled together here using all those different decades!

    It's a real talent being able to combine clothes so well in this way.

    Ali x

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  55. Brilliant concoction of decades of inspiration I'll say lady! You look stunning and my favourite between the hat, and boots= simply grand! xo

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  56. You look Amazing as always!! Your jewelry is Fabulous!!

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  57. Wow you did it again ;-)) Looking great as always. I love your red carpet bag. What really warms my heart is that you have so many pieces that used to belong to your mum and other family members. You carry them with you always. dee xxx

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  58. Oh wow the watch, and its history, are incredible. I'm so envious of your collection Vix!x

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  59. impressive!! love all your details in this outfit and well said, it isn't fun slavishly recreating everything from the 40s or 50s in every outfit, all the time. The joy is in mixing :)
    xox

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  60. I will wait and watch for your new posts lovely lady. You and your style is a delight to my eyes.
    Keep on doing what you do, so well...

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  61. Wow ! YOu really know how to wear clothes and other pieces of clothing !

    Love everything on you , esspecialy rings and earings !!

    :*

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  62. If anyone could make a gas mask look fabulous, it would be you. The dress is super and all the pieces work together. Sheesh, I can't even get my feet to work together!

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  63. thank you for your lovely comment. you look fantastic here as always, i love the black velvets. your style is so unique xxxx

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  64. This was an amazing challenge, well sone Vix you smashed it! I love all your jewels as always, just beautiful :o) Scarlett x

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  65. I knew this challenge wouldn't be difficult for you, Vix. Great look and loooooving all your jewellery. xo

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  66. FABULOUS! I love it all, of course, but especially covet the black velvet dress and that incredible BAG! The boots are gorgeous - so glad they fit so well. You are inspirational, as always, amor.

    Love! Sarah xxx

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  67. You look amazing! Loving all the timeless pieces from different eras coming together - keeps it all looking so interesting and fresh! I've said it before, but those boots are fantan! xxx

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  68. Great outfit. These clothes have lasted so well considering how old they are. In contrast many of todays clothes hardly last a season!

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  69. Stunning Vix. Each piece tells of a different tale and I love the priceless value of each one. Incredible detailing, the carpet bag is by far my fave and the Liberty scarfs such a delicate touch. Only you could put together an outfit that truly represents a 100 years of style xxx

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  70. Excellent post, dear. I love it when different eras marry in one ensemble. Loving the jewellery including watch, nail varnish, bag and all th other fanciable fancies.

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix