I was so quiet yesterday afternoon sorting through my clothes, happily planning and trying on suitable Kerala outfits, that Jon thought I'd relapsed and gone back to bed. I'm nowhere near finished packing yet, I'll leave everything laid out on the spare bed and reconsider for a few days before making my final decision. A good travel wardrobe can't be rushed.
When I find cool second-hand clobber I think'll be ideal for holidays I wash it and pack it away in the vintage case on top of my wardrobe in readiness for our next adventure. It's like discovering it all over again when I open the suitcase months later.This black maxi dress was a jumble sale buy back in the summer. It's strappy, tube-shaped and pretty boring but keeps it's shape well, won't crease and is perfect for layering underneath hippy caftans and waistcoats by day or blinged up with heaps of tribal jewellery in the evening. I'm hoping it won't disintegrate after a couple of wears like my last Topshop dress did.
I found this silver Alpaca choker in amongst my Mum's huge jewellery collection, I've no idea where she got it from but it was probably from a charity shop.
 |
| Clockwise from top: Alpaca choker, Lamani gypsy coin choker (Mysore) on a silver snake chain (Goa), Tibetan amulet (Goa), carnelian pendant (£1, car boot sale), agate and silver choker (50p, car boot sale), tribal thumb ring (Tamil Nadu) |
I cleaned some of my silver jewellery today.
I line a baking dish with foil, add a couple of teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda (baking powder) and cover with boiling water. After 30 minutes I rinse the jewellery and polish with a soft dry cloth.
It works a treat.
I just need to decide which pieces to pack. Decisions, decisions....
 |
| Cotton jersey maxi (20p, jumble sale), 1960s Shubette fringed waistcoat (previously seen HERE), Alexis ankle boots (£20, Topshop sale, 2009) |
hi vix,
ReplyDeletei'm away on vacation skiing and have limited internet access. just wanted to quickly wish you a happy new year and have fun on your vacation too. thanks for the silver polishing tip. i'll try it when i return home. xo janet
Hi Vix
ReplyDeleteLove the waistcoat with that dress and your choker is absolutely stunning. What a lot of fab jewellery you have amassed, thanks for the great (and cheap) cleaning tips. Since I found your blog I am buying more clothes in charity shops and loving the rummage. Here in the south alas, they are not quite so bargacious.
Thanks for your comment yesterday
xx
I love that maxi! Great tip re the polishing (although I do love toothpaste with bicarb of soda too, that does the job!) and I also love that necklace of your Mum's!
ReplyDeleteI'll be sending you a wee email soon, in about 30 mins! :)
xx
Great dress Vix! I look forward to seeing your travel snaps but I am sure I will be envious of the gorgeous hot weather and the fact that you'll be wafting around in beautiful wisps of vintage loveliness!! It'll be so nice to get out of this dreary british weather for a while!
ReplyDeleteYou look so beautiful in your outfit and I particularly like those boots!
Much love Amie xxxxxxx
You have some beautiful pieces of jewellery. I love the green necklace. I bet you can't wait to jet off to the sun, oh what bliss when it's so horribly cold here. Xx
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for your impending trip. Being a mamma now means travelling has gone on the back burner for now ( I used to be a travel agent and my heart still longs to travel) so I can not wait to see the amazing pics of your hols. I hate packing, but agree it needs total planning! And I reckon take all that gorgeous jewellery and even buy more once there lol :D x
ReplyDeleteI have a holiday box too, where I put all the stuff I wear when I'm away (but wouldn't be seen dead in at home!) And wow - I'd love to go to Kerala - can't wait to read all about it. Have a fantastic time & Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHow blumming exciting to be going away! The packing and planning is as exciting as the big event :o)
ReplyDeleteGreat to know that jewellery cleaning tip! Have to keep that for future reference - its marvellous all the things you can do with baking powder!
ReplyDeleteYou are looking extra hot today Vix!!!!! I love the green shadow with that choker of your Mums! Your fringed coat is sweet and I could see you wearing that over your bikini! I do the same things with summer clothes in winter and then they are just waiting to be re-discovered when the suns out again. I love that necklace with the coins on it, just beautiful! Thanks for the easy advice on cleaning silver, I never knew and spend way too much time polishing with a silver cloth.
ReplyDeleteLotsoflove~
Krista
I have tried that 'tip'. It works wonderfully! LOVE the necklace you are wearing!!! Oh I love all your jewelry! :)
ReplyDelete♡ from © tanvii.com
Oo I use that method too- although some pieces are quite badly tarnished that I have to use silver dip :( Love the coin necklace xx
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous jewellery, you have the most enchanting collection. As for the packing, I agree when packing nothing but perfection xxx
ReplyDeleteSo exciting packing for a holiday and like you say can't be rushed.
ReplyDeleteYou jewellery collection is fantastic. What a cleaver way to clean it too.
X x
Great tip on cleaning silver. I use toothpaste with calcium carbonate in it (Tom's of Maine, available in the U.S.)
ReplyDeleteI follow the same trip preparations -- setting things aside over a couple weeks. That also guarantees that everything will be clean when I pack it!
Thanks again for your blog. It has inspired me to change the focus of my blog. http://www.joyatri.com
I'm always fascinated by your jewelry collection Vix!
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful as always!
All the best and Happy New Year,
Forevermissvanity
xxx
Happy New Year Vix! Oh have fun on your holiday:) and wow wow wow I just love the jewelry you pick out you really should open a shop....you have an amazing eye for detail!! And thank you for sharing about your cleaning tips....and you look lovely of course a very pretty dress. Love Heather
ReplyDeleteI also leave clothes in the spare room waiting for packing.It is exciting.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you, my dear friend
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Love your folk jewellery, I always think I'd love some necklaces like that everytime I see you wearing them, and then I remember - I don't wear necklaces, doh!
ReplyDeleteI wish I was so organised in preparing a travel wardrobe! What amazing jewelry you have - I love that alpaca necklace - your Mum had great taste!
ReplyDeleteOH MY GOD!! I've literally gone through this post going, ooh that's nice, ooh that's amazing, ooh I love that. Wow Vix, you definitely inherited that amazing taste in jewellery from your lovely mum.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of your time away, can't wait to see the piccies. Enjoy, relax and have fun.
xx
I'm loving your jewellery collection, Vix - its sparkliness puts my tarnished silver to shame so I'll have to use your tip.
ReplyDeleteBTW - Happy New Year to you & Jon xxx
You have such a great jewellery collection - especially your mum's pieces, she had fantastic taste!
ReplyDeleteYou might find the dress a little boring, but you make it look brilliant!
I know you'll manage to pack in time and Jon must have been relieved not to have to force you to pack this year!
Love that dress and waistcoat, very cool! Can't you just take all your jewellery? Oh maybe not, the plane wouldn't get off the ground lol! :D ♥
ReplyDeleteTwins! I have started packing for my trip too:) I don't leave until the 19th but I agree it takes a long time to decide what to take, plus I'll be working until the day before I leave so I don't want any last minute panic and end up taking the wrong gear!
ReplyDeleteI really love all your tribal jewellery:)
I thought that black and white print was the top of the dress at first - then I realised I had seen the print before! I love the go-go suit, and it's a brilliant way to use the top by putting it over a frock. You are so ingenious!
ReplyDeleteYour jewellery is always magnificent, even more so with a little extra clean and polish!
Are you getting excited? When do you fly? I'm excited for you! xxxxxxxxx
I love that blue-green+alpaca choker.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice trip!!!
Thanks for the new [to me} way to clean silver! I've been putting it off because I hate to use chemicals. Now I can add it to my projects list.
ReplyDeleteHappy packing!
xo, Anita
Vix, relaxed and quiet?! Ha ha, only joking :) Sounds like you're almost ready, how exciting, that maxi looks like it'll be perfect.xx.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great necklaces collection! Amazing
ReplyDeleteooohhhh I have missed a post your off traveling ;-)) Yippeeeeeee ;-)) Im so pleased and excited for you. Your mum had the most amazing jewelry collection its lovely that you still have her pieces. Im off to check out your last post. Happy new year Vix here is to new adventures and excitement ;-)) dee xxx
ReplyDeleteYou're so lucky you're going for some holidays! THE jewellery is (fucking) amazing I love the necklace you're wearing in the most! You look so damn FABULOUS in your last post! The snacks do look DELICIOUS ! BIG KISS fabulous
ReplyDeleteBlimey, Vix, you make packing sound like fun (it's not one of my favourite activities that's for sure). Love your mum's choker and thanks for the handy tip for cleaning silver.
ReplyDeleteLove your attitude to holidays and packing. We shall be flying away to sunny climes about a week after you and I also like to gather all my intended clothes and do a 'practise pack'. I'm particularly inspired by your maxi dresses and would love to take a 1960s Honolulu muu muu to Bondi - but shall hope to find a floaty kaftan in my local India shop if they get some early spring/summer items in before I fly. Happy New Year, have fun in Kerala and bring back some super photos.Cx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dress, you look gorgeous as per :)
ReplyDeletexoxo.
Yes! I will be using your silver tip right away! Thank you. Really amazing jewellery and I couldn't believe you when you said the dress was boring, you've made it amazing.
ReplyDeleteEnjooyyy!
(also enjoyed seeing Polly and her stone mushroom- I love those!)
so happy I found your blog! Love all of your photos, our styles are similar so theres a ton of inspiration here.
ReplyDeletecheck out my blog if you get a chance =)
www.wecanpretend.net
Jaysus!!! Some spectacular jewellery sepcimans there! I covet every piece!!!EEEK! I love knowing where their from,they're like a little travel journal all on their own!
ReplyDeleteYay for a basic black maxi!I must hunt one out myself!That fringed number is totally fabulous,and makes the maxi a splendid outfit-o the joys of frocking up/frocking down a simple piece like that!!!
Can't wait to see what you'll take,you are my major inspiration when it comes to rravel wear,and I need lots of inspiration in that area!!
Love YOU,you mega sexacious hussy!
Love Helga xxxXXXxxx
I hate packing for trips and holidays.I never know what I want to take and end up packing and un packing.I have learned if I am flying wearing my ballet flats.I hate having to take my shoes off for the stupid scan thing and it's easy when your ready to sleep they just flip off my feet.lol.Your dress is cute.Hope you have a safe and fun holiday.xx
ReplyDeleteYou shine brighter than your lovely jewelry. Whatever you chose, you;ll look terrific. I love that about you... okay I mostly love that about you. Even Helen is only human.
ReplyDeleteHave fun on your vacation darling! I love all the silver jewellery, and I can see why you're having a hard time deciding what to pack. I'm terrible, I end up taking everything.
ReplyDeleteHave a Great time on vacation! That jewelry is so Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThat jewellery is so you! I just learnt that silver cleaning trick recently it's so nifty. On my last holiday I only put in 2 outfits and bought the rest no regrets!! Ahh it's getting closer you're going to have a marvelous time. xx
ReplyDeleteI MUST remember this recipe cleaning trick. Will we get to see the array you decide on before you go?
ReplyDeleteThat is how my sister used to tell me how to clean, it's an excellent remedy! Vix, you always have the best jewellery collection my dear. Love the maxi dress. Happy New Year! -xx
ReplyDeleteLove that fringe waist coat....fabulous style to the maxi! Your mums jewels are amazing! That how I clean my silver too :)
ReplyDeleteThat gypsy coin choker is absolutely stunning! I'm always admiring the jewellery you've got on. You are just perfection to the details :)
ReplyDelete*Oooooo myyy you have SO MUCH amazing jewelery*
ReplyDeleteLove the outfit also!
Fab outfit - as always - that waistcoat is so fabulous - how clever to tart up a simple maxi. I ADORE that Alpaca choker - what unique, beautiful pieces your Mama had - I just love them all. Are you counting the sleeps until your trip? I hope we get to see your holiday wardrobe before you go, amor! Love, Sarah xxx
ReplyDeleteI love all of your vintage jewelry. It's so romantic!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful jewelery collection!
ReplyDeleteAwwwww! packing for a trip always difficult choices to make! But i am certain you will make some fab choices and will look amazing!
Your new year's party seems like lots of fun, it was very quiet here on New Year's eve and day
Love
Ariane xxxx
I adore that dress! I'm a bit obsessed with black and white prints like that at the moment - bit of 70s monochrome. Luscious. I am also going to have to give your silver cleaning method a go. Ingenious and green.
ReplyDeleteLove the fact that your holiday packing is all summer wear whereas mine is going to involve thermals and as many layers as I can wear xx
Happy New Year darlin' Vix! xxxxx
ReplyDeleteyou seriously have some of the most beautiful jewellery i´ve ever seen vix and i guess after your new traveladventure it will grow even more;) the waistcoast is a dream on you!
ReplyDeletelove and kiss,mary
Have a wonderful time Vix - Happy New Year! And thank you for the jewellery cleaning tip :) x
ReplyDeleteI love the jewellery cleaning tip, fabulous, thank you! You look beautiful as always. I hope you have another great trip. It's actually cold here in Northern California so I'm envious of your impending warmth, I've become all pathetic in the cold. x
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy you'll have a chance to escape to cold dreary weather..which I could be a stowaway! xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteOh lordy Vix (do I say that a lot?) your mother's necklace is exquisite and I'm nearly PEEING my pants at your gorgeous silver necklaces!! It's like being in Aladdin's cave - oh gawwwwwwwwwwwwwwd the coin necklace is killing me with it's amazingness!! I LOVE packing sooooooooooo much, the anticipation, the lists of stuff to take, the "headaches" over picking just one out of three pieces ... I need my head read!!! Happy, happy packing lovely and Happy New Year to you, you're both starting off 2012 in fine form:)) xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteyay! packing means you'll be flying off into the (warm) sunset soon...
ReplyDeleteLOVE the dress!! I would totally wear that!!
xo kel
As a devoted fan of silver jewellery, I was dying over your fabulicious collection! Will try the cleaning tip too. It takes me forever to pack for trips as I have to have outfits for every possible mood and weather condition. That black dress should be a good basic that you can wear to the beach or load up with accessories--I thought the waistcoat was part of the dress. You look gorgeous, as usual!
ReplyDeleteLove that dress!! It's true, a good travel wardrobe can't be rushed!
ReplyDeletexx
mirrorandmoon.blogspot.com
This dress definitely has to come along! xoxo
ReplyDeleteYou have such an interesting array of jewellery, some of the pieces are quite spectacular and bizarre!
ReplyDeleteI never put a lot of planning into what I pack when I go away. I usually do it all the day before going away, which either means I take more than I need to I miss something. I have taken to writing a list and checking things off which helps a great deal!
Loving the messy waves, very beach-tastic! xxx
some really lovely silver jwellery..am a total silver jwellery buff!!!!!
ReplyDeletelove you waistcoat and lip color!!
http://sushmita-smile.blogspot.com/
O what to say !
ReplyDeleteI have no words - this is so beautifull colection of jewellery !
kisses :*
Your hair looks lovely xx
ReplyDeleteMore jewellery jealousy. I give up!
ReplyDeleteYour mum had such wonderful taste.
x
that waist coat is jammin cool!
ReplyDeleteI adorar all your crazy jewelry!
pervin at your hair and make up today.
besos