Sunday 20 November 2011

Get On Your Boots



eBay, I freaking love it. Where else can you buy genuine Victoriana for less than a pint of cider? I spotted these antique leather boots last Saturday morning, popped in a snipe, hit the charity shops and by lunchtime they were mine. The description said that they could only be fastened with a button hook and that the leather was cracked and dry, but that didn't deter me. 


Coming from a long line of hoarders I still have my Great-Grandmother's silver Art Nouveau button hook.


Isn't she a beauty?


I gave the uppers a quick once-over with nail polish remover to remove any surface dirt and allowed them to dry for around 30 minutes. I then lightly coated the surface with intensive hair conditioner leaving them to soften overnight. The following morning I buffed them with a soft cloth and they're now supple and lovely.


The lovely Ceri challenged us to post an outfit featuring some DIY. Here's mine.


I made the dress from a 1950s curtain. The lace tights were from Friday night's jumble, they were very long leggings and I simply sewed the cuffs together to form feet. 


The collar was from Thursday's car boot sale and the ribbon I attached came off one of last years' birthday parcels.

Handmade curtain couture dress (20p), lace tights (20p), fake fur collar (50p), Victorian boots (£2.20)

Hope you're having a good weekend. As usual ours has been spent eating and drinking far too much, rummaging through other people's cast-offs and catching up with friends. We went to see a wonderful nursing home this morning complete with a resident cat, I think Dad's going to love it. 

See you soon.

67 comments:

  1. Hi Vix! This is one of my faaaavorite outfits - you look amazing!Love.it.all. AND - you are inspiring me so much to bust out more jewelery and just go for it in general with the wardrobe selections. I just want to thank you!!I was totally thinking 'what would Vix wear?'this weekend when I hit the art openings. I think you would have dug it - maybe I'll do a post about it....xo

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  2. You look beautiful, I cannot get over how amazing those very very vintage boots are! What a job you've done on them! xxx

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  3. Oh goodness the boots are so lovely Vix, and very you. eBay never fails to amaze me.

    I'm sure you will get much wear and love out of these xxx

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  4. I adore the colour of that dress Vix!
    And those boots are lush, I so need a pair of flat boots!!

    Jules
    Suddenly I See

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  5. this victorian boots are really beautiful vix and i love the lace tights you wear with them oh and green looks soooo good on you!
    kiss,mary

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  6. What an amazing find!!!! They look fantastic, as you do(as usual!) x

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  7. I love your outfit! That green is beautiful, one of my favorite shades. And the boots are gorgeous too - they look so comfy and stylish!

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  8. Oo j adore ce style de chaussures,extra top ;o)

    http://surlelongchemindelacceptation.blogspot.com/

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  9. Aye!! these Victorian boots are stunning! You are the Queen amor!
    I love your fab green curtain fabric dress with lacey tights. You look just beyond freakin gorgeous.Great-I nver seen a silver Art Nouveau button hook before,your so lucky to have such family heirlooms.

    Hope everything gets sorted with your PaPa.
    luv ya back!

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  10. Ooh lovely boots, what a bargain! They make me think of Downton Abbey, I just finished it and I'm a bit obsessed now! :)

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  11. Nail-polish remover and conditioner. Brilliant.

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  12. the hair conditioner trick sounds amazing, will dry it out, too!
    lovely boots, really unique

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  13. The boots are just wow!) love those buttons - what an amazing find <3

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  14. oohhh, really Victorian boots and a genuine art nouveau button hook!!, I'm admiring so much your great style!. And love that dress you've made, so pretty fabric and shape!!. You're fabulous in Green!
    And never thought hair conditioner would be a solution to soften leather shoes!!
    besos & fun

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  15. You have done a fantastic job on those boots, what a great find, well done, I hope you walk many miles in them too

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  16. Those boots are amazing! And such a bonus that you get to use an inherited treasure to fasten them.

    Your green dress from a curtain is so Scarlett O'Hara; I adore it!

    xo, Anita

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  17. Your Victorian boots are beautiful, and I love your brilliant tip for using intensive hair conditioner on them - they've come up a treat.

    I do hope your Dad will soon be settled in his new home - how lovely to have a resident cat in a nursing home.

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  18. What amazing boots (and even more amazing you have the period tools to fasten them up!) - I'm going to try your hair conditioner trick on the leather of some flamenco shoes I managed to ruin. Love your green dress!

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  19. I dont know but zou inspire me !! Im following u, pls check me out madame, great blog

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  20. Those boots are a great find, especially in a 'normal' size for today and top tips to bring them back to life. I will definitely give old boots another look now. You look great in your handmade outfit.
    Good news about the nursing home, really hope your dad will like it x

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  21. Breathless.Those boots rock.You did a great job making them glamorous again.Love your tights and that dress is cute.Love the color.You are one hot hottie.xx

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  22. Vix you are the ebay queene - these are beautiful!!! Thanks for the tips too, i'll be using these for any future leather shoe buys, brilliant! Scarlett x p.s Great news about the nursing home too :o) x

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  23. You are just the Queen of Top Tips, Vix! (That rhymes.) How do you know this stuff? Why don't I know this stuff? Well, I do now, thanks to you!

    The boots are heavenly, as is your button hook, a perfect pairing! I love your frock, and as always you put the outfit together with consummate Vix style.

    Good news about finding a suitable nursing home for your dad, I'm sure he will be more settled there. Keep us posted about how it goes. xxxxxxxxx

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  24. Wow, you are so knowledgeable, I wouldn't even know what a button hook is. Another great treatment for leather is Patchouli oil, it smells bloody lovely too. Dried out leather never puts me off, it can always be fixed.

    You look like a green goddess in that dress. xx

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  25. good luck with placing your dad. these are some of life's toughest decisions. i know it was with my mom.

    love your outfit and i love a challenge. i seriously don't know if i have a dyi though. i'll have to think about it. dang it vix you inspire me no end!
    xo janet

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  26. the boots are absolutely gorgeous! great find. that dress is so lovely too, your talents know no ends!

    xoxo.

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  27. Wonderful boots. I love Ebay too.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  28. Love the outfit esp the tights and dress xx

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  29. Great outfit and nice score on the boots. It's good you were able to bring them back to life and into use.

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  30. Oh I love those boots! And the name inside of them!
    The lace'tights' are gorgeous too!

    Well spotted!

    Sandie xx

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  31. Amazing boots. I seriously don't know how you do it!

    That dress is gorgeous, do please feel free to make me one too if you still have the other curtain ;-P

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  32. I have some serious boot envy, nice score!

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  33. The nail polish remover is a new one for me..........thanks!!

    I love those shoes!
    Sniping.....good if you are the one doing it, ouch! if you aren't!!

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  34. I was just watching A Little Princess :) thinking how much i Love their boots, then saw yours...they are wonderful!!! xxx

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  35. Fantastic news about the Nursing Home - such a weight off your shoulders and a happy place for your Dad (keeping my fingers-crossed for you).
    Stunning ensemble as always - the boots are enchanting.

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  36. Fabulous dress, Vix! I honestly could not be more impressed by your imagination when it comes to sewing. I love the boots, too - and good tips about leather, thank you! x

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  37. Vix, those boots are amazeballs! I love them-they're so current and 'on trend' like that matters anyway but it totally fascinates me how fashion always comes back around-I mean, I've seen similar pairs to your glorious original boots in Toppers! But yours are much nicer and what a wonderful piece of history to be wearing. Regards eBay, I bliking love it too; I have expensive taste but not always the budget to match, but where else could you indulge in great brands for a fraction of the cost? I recently bought a pair of Whistles trousers for a smidge over a fiver-new with tags and price of £70!! Always worth a rummage on eBay, love it!!
    Love as always Amie xxxxxx
    PS hope the visit to the home went well and your daddy feels happy there :D xxxxx

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  38. Really glad you've found somewhere suitable for your dad, the right nursing home makes all the difference and it will be a weight off your mind knowing he's being looked after properly. And of course a cat is the icing on the cake.

    Moving on to the boots - wow is pretty much all I have! Amazing tip about the conditioner, and if I had been given the boot-hook I would certainly have held onto it as well, even if I had no idea button boots would be coming into my life. How had the seller sized them? I bet you have really narrow feet. I used to, but they seem to have spread post-kids.

    Love the whole outfit, the leggings to tights are another inspired idea! xx

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  39. Oh my Vix those books are absolutely gorgeous, I might have to grab those cleaning tips too x

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  40. Cool boots! :D Glad to hear you may have found a nice place for ya dad ♥

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  41. BLOODY HELL!! VICTORIAN BOOTS!
    I NEVER!!!
    Kerist on a stick,love,what an amazing score!They look totally at home with your fabupus curtain frock!!! I have love,love,loved that collar since the day you debuted it!You are a STAR!Without a doubt!
    So pleased you spent a weekend doing wonderful things!I need to detox for a few days,myself!
    LOVE YOU!
    Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  42. Hi Viv could you explain how to do a snipe on ebay ,you have mentioned it before I am intrigued ..love Jan xx

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  43. My goodness how nifty are you with those tricks for the boots, must file those tricks away in the mental filing cabinet.

    Now about the dress, once a curtain you say, green, print, made by you.......what fantastic-ness. Taking orders? Ha ha.

    Oh and the button hook is delightful.

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  44. Love the 'curtain couture' dress and what a brilliant name for it! The Victorian boots are gorgeous, what a lovely piece of history on your feet!

    Any nursing home with a resident cat is bound to be warm and homely! xxx

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  45. P.S. The Art Nouveau button hook is simply stunning!

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  46. Can't believe that your handy heirloom art nouveau button hook has been reunited with a genuinely stunning Victoriana pair of boots - you are a bidding minx!

    Glad you might have found a pussy-friendly spot for your Dad - Sounds just the ticket - Have a fabulous week xxx

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  47. Those boots are fab, what a find ! I also like the silver button hook. I had some boots like that very similar from M&S in 1994 but although they were great , they did'nt stand the test of time like yours.

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  48. Love your curtain dresses, Vix, and what a great boots catch! I didn't know about the hairspray trick. xoxo

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  49. I'm so pleased you found a suitable nursing home for your dad. That must be such a relief for you.

    Those boots, amazing. I've always wanted a pair, ever since seeing a photograph of my grandmother wearing a pair as a child. It's such a nice feeling wearing an outfit you know nobody else in the world is wearing. It must be even better when you've made most of it too.

    I have to tell you what I'd like to see you achieve next, since you blew us away with the fiver challenge:
    How many eras/decades can you cram into one cohesive outfit? I've only managed 60's, 70's and noughties so far.

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  50. Holy Victoriana...what a find! They go wonderful with your lace tights and hand made frock. -T

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  51. Oh they're gorgeous! So unusual to feature the spat design twooo pooounds twwwweeennty! Please sir, I want some more!

    I've noticed you've been wearing a lot of green lately! Looks lovely with the black.

    A home with a cat sounds like a nice place =)

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  52. Here are the boots holy crap those are killer and in such good shape! A button hook, well I've never even heard of that...wow! You are looking hot in your sweet handmade dress and fur collar, I just love the lace tights with it. As always Vix I just love all your sexy chunky silver, it's just so you!

    It was great catching up I love you bunches babe!!!!
    BIGKISSES~
    Krista

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  53. The boots aged well and they look fabulous with your green dress and those sexy stockings!
    Have a great week,

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  54. Those boots are amazing - what a great score!

    Love those lacy tights too - awesome idea sewing up the ends, I have a pair of leggings I'm not really into, but if they were stockings I would wear them. I think I'm going to try your idea:)

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  55. MY GOD THE BOOTS ARE AMAZING!
    I adore adore adore them & what a lovely button hook too.

    Your outfit is delicious as always.

    And if the nursing home has a cat it sounds puuurrrrrfect. I know when I need to go to one I want it to have some pets. I love em!

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  56. OOh thanks for the conditioner tip! I often see leather that's too stiff to wear, now I can buy it and fix it. Hurrah.

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  57. WOW I don't know what is more AMAZING - your BEAUTIFUL homemade frock in that stunning fabric (LOOVE THE COLOUR!), those FABULOUS antique boots (STILL WEARABLE!) or THE PRICES!

    This post is why you are the Vintage Queen of the World! You look absolutely stunning, those boots are killer, your DIY leather repair tips are brilliant. YOU ROCK!

    Love! Sarah xxx

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  58. Those boots are just gorgeous. I LOVE THEM. I wonder who wore them and where they have been? Loving your dress too. M x

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  59. Very very creative Vix! I am so impressed- they're magnificent!

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  60. Thanks so much for joining in this weeks round up.

    I love the boots and would never have known to rescue dry leather with hair conditioner, what a great idea. The curtain couture dress is fab too.

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  61. Hair conditioner on leather, I'm going to try it, thanks for the tip!

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  62. Good thinking making tights out of the leggings!
    Gorgeous dress.

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  63. I think the leather actually looks better cracked - more character. xx
    We Shop Therefore We Are

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  64. love your boots and the hook is beautiful
    well done on winning
    xx fee

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  65. I can't believe you have that fabulous button hook and I love how you whipped up that dress from a 1950s curtain!

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Lots of love, Vix