Friday 4 November 2011

Flares On A Friday


These long dark winter nights have helped me recover my sewing mojo and I'm stitching like a woman possessed. I found this piece of vintage red wool at a jumble sale months ago and it seemed a crime not to make it into some more kick-ass bell bottom pants.


How good does it feel to have something you've made with your own fair hand stroked and admired by strangers? At least, I think it was my trousers they were admiring.


There's blue stitching running through the fabric but you can't really see it in here. The fennel's gone a bit wild, hasn't it?


The beautiful Sarah Misfit sent me this 1970s Cabaret shirt a while ago, the red perspex necklace was 50p from a charity shop.

My friend Louise wanted to see some pictures of my Grandma as they shared the birth date of October 2nd (the same as Gandhi).
My Grandma (right) with my Great-Grandmother (left) and Great Auntie Maud,(centre) circa 1936

My beautiful late Grandma always stressed the importance of investing in the best quality winter coat you could afford. She loved charity shopping and preferred spending her money on top quality second-hand than a shoddy high street equivalent.


This 1960s Hokia Modell Finnish-made wool coat was 20p from a jumble sale and it's the fourth winter I've owned it. 


I'm off to the pub tonight and we've a mega Guy Fawkes bonfire party round at Liz and Adrian's tomorrow night to look forward to. I pity my poor head come Sunday morning.

Have a brilliant weekend, my lovelies.
xxx

78 comments:

  1. loving that shirt and your trousers,
    I've got 3 items on the go sewing-wise at the moment...

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  2. Oh the colors are wonderful love the outfit and the pictures!! The pants came out fantastic that is a great vintage pattern I really like this one...I need to catch up with some sewing as well ...Enjoy your weekend sounds like fun!! Love Heather

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  3. My inner green eyed genie is in lust with the 'Cabaret' shirt! x

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  4. Vixcita,
    Your pants are freaking fantastic! You look like a 70's dream. love all the colors and cabaret blouse is so crazy beautiful. eyeing your star necklace. Your grandma was gorgeous, you have her smug smile and great body and thrifting style.you keep sewing MaMa!
    Have fun tonight
    besotes

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  5. Red Pants!!, so fabulous and pretty well shaped by your own hands!!, I'm enjoying your work of art, dear lady!
    And love your starry necklace and funny pattern shirt, but your coat is Plaid!!, so delightful!!
    besos & wish you a funny weekend

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  6. I am loving your bright red bells, I love the big turn up at the bottom, they really look fantastic! Paired with that bright and bold print on the top it's just friggin awesome love! That jackets is my favorite perfect length nice bold colors and I bet it keeps you toasty. You look amazing!!!!!!!

    Your grandma and great grandma look so stylish in their beautiful coats and I love her advice. You have some bad ass women in your bloodline.

    That star necklace is the perfect topper to your beautiful outfit.
    Have a blast this weekend.
    ILOVEYOUBUNCHES~
    Krista

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  7. Your Grandma is the height of vintage glamour! Love the looks, and love what you have sewn xx

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  8. Your grandma looks beautiful in that photo, i adore the vintage glamour. You are so clever to make those beautiful flares - look blooming fantastic - the shirt is incredible too. Have a fabulous weekend Scarlett x

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  9. Wise Grandma! I just purchased a beautiful winter coat labeled from one of the former high end stores I remembered as a child. It is in perfect condition and much better quality than I could ever afford new. I expect many winters wear from it. -T

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  10. That's another stunning pair of trousers you've sewn. I love the star necklace and your wonderful winter coat too. Your Grandma looks beautiful in that photo - so glamorous and poised, I can certainly see the family resemblance.

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  11. Hi my dear-well done indeed, those trousers are awesome and look lovely! I adore your coat too, quality certainly never dates or goes out of style! Have a great weekend xxx

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  12. Wahey, who doesn't need a pair of red bell bottoms! They are awesome. And how well does the Cabaret shirt go with your coat, excellent colour matching.

    We are having haggis for dinner tonight (need to introduce my brother to some Scottish cuisine) and are being cooked an Italian feast tomorrow. I love food-based weekends xx

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  13. I love EVERYTHING about that outfit!

    Have a fab weekend!
    Jules

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  14. Your flares look fantastic, and your coat is gorgeous! Love the photo of your Grandma. Have a great night xxx

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  15. Fantastic flares! I need to be brave enough to try to sew more than just cushion covers and curtains.

    I agree about winter coats. I'll hold my hands up to having too many but nearly all of them are quality charity shop or secondhand eBay finds. I think the best time to buy them is in the summer - more likely to snaffle a baragain then because no one else is looking xx

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  16. Great trousers - I've never attempted a pair, all that bit around the crotch and zip area looks so complicated! These are inspiring and look fab. I adore that shirt too! Agree about the coats. I have an 8 yr old coat from Jigsaw which was v. nicely made and looks as good now as when it was new - I really love it. Have a great weekend! xxx

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  17. love the outfit-the shirt is wild!!
    You really have a look of your Grandma you know!

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  18. OOOh, I love those trousers! ace job!

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  19. I wish I could make my own clothing from scratch, I'm making it my personal mission to be able to sew basic clothes by the time I've finished uni! Your grandma looks amazing in the photo, so chic!
    Have a great bonfire night :)
    Rachelle x
    http://inspiredbytheretired.blogspot.com/

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  20. Head turning winter outfit. Love everything. X

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  21. These look fantastic. I'm really into that tomato red/orange colour just now - you can't help but feel really cheerful in it. xx

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  22. Those pants and that necklace together, wow! So fabulous.

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  23. Fantastic trousers, I so need to learn to sew! That coat is fab.

    Enjoy your weekend hun.

    X x

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  24. I bloody love this outfit! Red flares...oh, yuss and that blouse is a wonder.
    Have a top weekend.
    xxxx

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  25. You are on FIRE with that sewing machine at the moment, Vix! The flares are wonderful, and you have put together such a stylish outfit with the fabulous blouse from Sarah and that gorgeous coat.
    Your Grandma was a beauty, just like you.
    Enjoy your weekend, our bonfire night will be alcohol-free at the Scout hut, so not as much fun as yours, I'm afraid.... xxxxxxx

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  26. Trousers made to fit - can't beat that. I think the shirt and necklace have been asking for red bell bottoms!
    Wow, your grandmother looks so happy, elegant and beautiful - now we know where you get it from.
    Sage advice, funny how charity shopping runs in families. My mother in law bought me a dress from BHS recently. She said "I'm starting to feel sorry for you, always in second-hand clothes". I don't think she will ever accept that I CHOOSE to shop in them!
    No pints of wine this weekend, you will be fine!

    Lucy x

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  27. amazing pants!!!

    xxx Tribal Fox Vintage

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  28. Yay,I've got my sewing mojo on too!Just some boring projects first,then frocks ahoy!LOVE the pants,you've done a brillant job!The cuff is mega cool!That shirt!It's amaaaazing!!What a find!Yay Sarah!I really wanted to see it open just a bit lower....hahahahaha the perpex stars are gorgeous!The coat is one of the grooviest I have ever seen!
    And I am mad about that pic of Granny,Great Granny and Great Aunty!They are all gorgeous and dressed to KILL!As women did as standard back then!Like we do NOW!
    Love YOU!
    O,no post from me today,I'm off to Hanmer-forgot to mention in my post yesterday!
    Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  29. Your grandma looks so elegant and well put together in her beautiful outfit. I can see where you get your beautiful looks and your style from now! Have a fantastic weekend. Your red bell bottoms are perfection in wool. Em xx

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  30. Thank you lovely lady for pandering to my curiosities and sharing that gorgeous photo. I was telling hubby earlier that you have your grandma's beautiful warm smile, and when I showed him he agreed. That's certainly a good gene pool.

    I love red trousers, those are absolutely beautiful. The blouse is stunning, I've never seen anything lie it. You are so clever though, those fab trousers. Have a tremendous weekend.

    Xx

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  31. Great trousers! This is such a seventies kaliedoscope-tastic outfit! I love the perspex star necklace. Enjoy your weekend - I'm off to the fireworks tomorrow night too xxx

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  32. Oh my, you've got your Grandma's smile.

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  33. Wow your sewing skills are truely amazing trousers are so hard to make i feel its getting the cut and the hang right on them and you have managed it greatly. They look blinking gorgeous on you and i love the coat to what a fab outfit, well done you ;-)) I have to say your grandma was a beautiful Elegant lady like you are. Have a lovely weekend and enjoy the fireworks, dee xxx

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  34. Gorgeous Kex (trousers), and I really love the necklace it is amazing.

    You are so lucky to have such a grand picture of your grandmothers! They look very smart and well to do!

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  35. Hot damn! Those pants are awsome,
    I serioulsy LOVE EM and they look perfect on you.
    Also something that jumped out at me from the pics and took me for a spin is you flipping coat *drool*
    It is darn amazing if I ever came across one thrifting I would be RUNNING to it. (Ready to push over anyone else that got in the way.)
    "Not really cause that would be cruel.. but in my head.. YESSSS I WOULD"

    Love the old pic of your Grandma, Aunt & Gr. Grandma.
    Have a fun weekend... don't be too hard on that pretty lil head of yours.

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  36. Love the high-waisted flares, well done. And your Grandma is beautiful in the pic.

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  37. Hehe this is so delightfully 70's, please don't hate me for bringing the bay city rollers into this, but it reminds me of all those 70's glam rockers (er, if they ever were) definitely Bowie anyway!

    So impressed by your sewing skills, they look brilliant.

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  38. Love the combo of trousers with the coat! And I adore the pic of your Gran, Gr. gran and Aunt! I have a similar pic of my gran and aunts around the same time, looking so fashionable with those snazzy hats! I hope you have great fun tonight for Guy Fwkes Day!
    XXX
    Suzanne

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  39. You've put together another stunning outfit! I am in love with all of it! And I can't believe that you just whipped up a pair of tailored pants in no time; you have an awesome talent.
    My sewing mojo is suffering right now as I am busy getting everything in place before the misters surgery, so I'm jealous! I NEED to make some time soon! In the meantime, I will just enjoy everyone else's work; so thanks for sharing.
    xo

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  40. Those flares are AMAZING!! You look great, I really love them. Also the necklace is pretty amazing too.

    Your grandmother was one classy lady!

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  41. You look gorgeous, those pants are fab and I loooove your necklace!
    I'm sewing now too! SO much fun.
    Karlene

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  42. Dearest Vix. Please don’t think I’ve abandoned you, I’m late as ever, but forever enchanted.

    The coat is stunning and the trousers are another wonderful creation. You really do have the most fabulous story to tell. It’s no denying beauty and gracefulness has always been in your genes xxx

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  43. You know what I'd like to see? YOUR WARDROBE! I imagine you must have a whole room dedicated to your fine collection! Complete with leopard print carpet and ornate mirrors? C'mon lets have a peek! x

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  44. absolutely love to see you in trousers! your flares are divine and it's so wonderul you made them by yourself!

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  45. Gorgeous pants....love the hem detail! Your grandma & great grandma & aunt look stylish.....beautiful photo.

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  46. Your Gran was so right, quality doesn't always mean new! You prove that every time :o)

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  47. wow ! you look Gorgeouslove the necklace !! xx

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  48. Everything about this outfit is superb. I just want all of it. I'm sure that people were admiring you and your pants. I have been on the hunt for a beautiful pair of cherry trousers just like yours. Is the wool itchy? Did you add lining? Please continue to stay beautiful and keep the lovely outfits coming.

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  49. The cabaret shirt is mesmerizing. So many beautiful details to explore. The pattern mixes perfectly with that lovely winter coat. Have a great weekend!

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  50. I love looking at old photos of people when they were young and esp black an white photos. Your grandma was lovely.

    I love those red bell bottoms remind me of the 70's. xx

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  51. Oh by the way Vix I love what you wrote on my blog I will try and rememer to say that every day.

    You are right she is rather bitter and she has lost a lot of friends along they way because of this!
    However, she feels she never does any wrong...deluded! xx

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  52. Vix, do you remember Oxford Bags, perhaps worn as a child? You have taken me right back to mine - They were a burgundy colour - I loved them and wore them with a cheesecloth gypsy blouse - Some would claim I've never changed!

    I love it that you still have your GG-Great Grandmother's beautiful jacket - How amazing is that.

    Thank you for letting us see your family photo - They are sooo stylish! Very lovely, once again - Hope your weekend is frocking fab! Fhi xxx

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  53. Great trousers, Vix! Making trousers frightens me, but I'm going to tackle knitting them soon. Enjoy Guy Fawkes! xoxo

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  54. your grandma is beautiful, and you can really see a family resemblence!
    i have just started to teach myself how to sew..i see a long road ahead of me haha!
    xox

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  55. Hope you had a great time at the party!

    Also--wow you've got some talent to make pants like that and they are so you. I like the pieces you paired it with too like the cabaret top.

    Your grandmother was such a beauty and I agree with your advice about choosing coats. My fave coats are vintage, one of which was given to me by own stylish gram.

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  56. Those trousers are great - I really must dust off my sewing machine too!

    I love the photo of your ancestors - stylishness is clearly in your blood!

    Hope you're enjoying the bonfire party x

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  57. Vix,

    I love the star necklace-super cool. And it's great when you are wearing something you made yourself like your trousers. Good job


    Chadina

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  58. I can see where you get your style and looks from Vix; definitely a genetic bonus!

    You've done a lovely job on those bell bottoms and that was some good advice that your Grandma passed down to you amongst other things.

    I love your Finnish coat too. I think those Finns had some serious good style going on there; check out the dress that I brought today. It put a smile on my face!

    xxx

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  59. lovely outfit!!i am a new fashion blogger from indonesia living in singapore :) i really like your blog. i will really appreciate & it will be an honor to have u as my blog member.

    and of course i will folback!:D also, u can mention me anytime on twitter @tiodang if you want me to check out your latest post & leave a comment ^^ ,please list me on twitter, so i will know u're my follower!! ;)

    i've just recommend your post to google!u can check it! that's what u got if you keep in touch with my blog too!! hope u will do the same ^^
    u can contact me at : cheeringwinda@yahoo.com

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  60. lovely outfit!!i am a new fashion blogger from indonesia living in singapore :) i really like your blog. i will really appreciate & it will be an honor to have u as my blog member.

    and of course i will folback!:D also, u can mention me anytime on twitter @tiodang if you want me to check out your latest post & leave a comment ^^ ,please list me on twitter, so i will know u're my follower!! ;)

    i've just recommend your post to google!u can check it! that's what u got if you keep in touch with my blog too!! hope u will do the same ^^
    u can contact me at : cheeringwinda@yahoo.com

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  61. I could pretend that I'm not salivating at the gorgeousness of your coat- but who would I be fooling? Ah the color of everything you're wearing to how you wear it is simple toasty goodness.
    the Citizen Rosebud

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  62. OMG - those pants are INCREDIBLE! You are so talented, amor! And I had completely forgotten about that fab shirt - it goes perfectly with the pants - and that jacket is GORGEOUS!

    You look so tranquil and beautiful - I gotta get into this sewing biz.

    Love, Sarah xxx

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  63. What an amazing old photo. Your grandma was simply stunning!

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  64. Your trousers look gorgeous, really lovely vibrant colour & the fit looks brilliant too, you're sooo clever!x

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  65. Ohh Vix I've just noticed you have my blog in your side bar, thank you so much that's really kind :) But, I've changed the name/URL [sorry!], could you possibly update it? It's 20-over.blogspot.com not mondayreceptionist.blogspot.com anymore, I'm not sure if you control it or now cos I know bog all about blogging, but it would be lovely if you could :)

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  66. That coat is amazing! And 20p, I am in AWE of your bargain hunting skills.

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  67. You're just so Fabulous..LOVE the red pants and great shirt Sarah sent you ! **Ah I thought I was following you but since I never saw your posts on my dashboard I checked if I was and nope..but now I am !

    ROCK ON!

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  68. These flares are brilliant!! Very keen on the perspex necklace too, total bargain if you ask me!

    Jem xXx

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  69. Merci for the inspiration, I shall be turning out some bell bottoms this week and have you to thanks, Kat xx

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  70. Ohhhh I love your flares! What I wouldnt give for a pair of brick red flares...

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  71. You look so cute.love the whole outfit.I adore the coat and the detail on the blouse is really cool.xxx

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  72. Vix my dear your trousers are hot! They are really lovely and I love that chequered coat! That hat is pretty cool also!

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  73. Great outfit, I'm afraid I'll never have the sewing mojo though! I picked your grandmother straight away, strong resemblance!

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  74. ADORE your whole outfit and that photo is just fantastic!

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  75. Your grandmother was seriously beautiful, what a stunning picture. You're a real whiz with the needle, I'm in awe of your skills. Brilliant shirt and love the necklace too.

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  76. I loved this entire post - you looked amazing in everything! Your vintage collection is truly TDF.

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  77. Ah thats my mums birthday too! This may be one of my fave outfits on here, loving your sewing skills! Ever since I can remember I've wanted red trousers and I still havent got a pair, may need to follow your lead and get the sewing machine out! :)

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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