Monday 7 May 2012

Short Weekend - The Return of Curtain Couture



Despite the positively wintry weather conditions it's actually the May Day holiday here in the UK .


It was far too cold and wet for a car boot sale so, as it's less than a month until the festival season kicks off, I thought I'd rifle through my fabric stash and run up some hot pants which'll be perfect with wellies if the summer stays as miserable.

1960s hooded maxi (£10, eBay), Dolcis suede platforms (£4.99, PDSA)
These were made from some scary gold brocade curtains bought for pennies from a jumble sale last year. The 1960s daisy braid was 10p from a car boot sale ages ago and I used a charity-shopped 1971 dressmaking pattern.

I'd forgotten about this pendant, the lady who sold it to me for 50p thought I was mad for loving it so much.
As they were pretty easy to make I thought I'd knock up a second pair while I'd still got my sewing mojo.


 These were cut from a chintzy 1950s era jumble sale curtain, the 1970s braid was a car boot sale buy years ago.

TopShop tiger top (£1.99, Acorns Hospice), 1960s suede jerkin (£1, car boot sale), 1950s Gladstone bag(20p, jumble sale), River Island boots (£2, Salvation Army)
I had so much fun I might even try a third pair, once I've caught up with the wonderful world of blogging.


I'm linking my new hot pants to the fantastic Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesdays

 I'll try and get some India pictures uploaded this week, I can't believe I was lounging on a beach less than a week ago.


Hope you've had a fab weekend. 


70 comments:

  1. You look fab and I totally love those boots. All your boots are amazing. xx

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  2. I wondered where you were, I missed you! I'm coming to UK this year, hope the weather gets better! Can't wait to see the India pics.. xo

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  3. You be be festival-tastic in both of those shorts - I am in LOVE with the chintzy ones! They are so cute! I've been indoors all weekend because of the weather - it's gruesome - kudos to you for getting your legs out in these temperatures!

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  4. I heart those shorts vix - you're so talented!!

    I hate the weather too... I want the sunshine!!!

    I sent you an email btw!
    xo

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  5. You're back! Welcome home! I cant wait to see your pictures. Those hot pants are so hot. Mad props.

    Sophia

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  6. I can belive you were lounging on a beach a week ago! That tan, it suits you so much.
    I think.you'll be living in shorts and minis once this ridiculous wet and cold phase passes. June to September, pure sunshine, just watch!
    Love both shorts, they'd be very unforgiving on someone with a beer belly though!
    Dreamt about you and Jon last night, you were on tv and Jon had curly, longish hair.

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  7. Those shorts are superb, they look fantastic with those boots.

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  8. Gosh these are pretty amazing Vix! Love the fact they are totally unique and one of a kind, I bet you have loads of fabric left over for another project too xxx

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  9. The brocade and the chintz hot pants are wonderful!!!
    I can't believe you made them out of a curtain, they look amazing on you!
    xxx

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  10. I LOVE the gold ones (on someone your size I hasten to add). I wish my sewing was better. Looking forwards to the India photo's.
    V
    xxx
    ps. thanks again for the kindest words you left for me.

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  11. The shorts are so funky! You are a dab hand with the sewing machine I see, especially love the floral fabric shorts, pretty.

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  12. I love your hot pants, you just sizzle! I'm totally envious of your skills on that machine! I have yet to even pick a project out of that book you sent me because I suck. That long coat is so funky too, I love some hot pants with a long coat and that Indian head pendant is so you! I miss you so much but all the sunshine this weekend kept out of the house and far away from my computer. We'll catch up soon promise!
    Loveyou!!
    Krista

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  13. The shorts are perfect on you and I love the fabrics! Also love the way you've styled the outfits. Hope your weather improves soon.

    Love, Jean

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  14. Oh they're wonderful! I especially love the second pair! You know you could always sell them!!! I can see it now, a range of vintage curtain shorts called "It's curtains!"

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  15. Well done you, the hot pants look fab on you - you have such a great figure! Sadly I have never been able to wear hot pants :-( so I'll live vicariously through you. Whatever happened to Spring, eh?!

    P.S Definitely go for another pair while you're in the sewing mood x

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  16. Yay - make more, make more! These are fantastic! I've never made any shorts or trousers - the bit round the zip where about 8,000 different bits of fabric join up scares me! Love that gold fabric to go with your wonderfully gold limbs - perhaps now you're home the sun will shine here again! xxx

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  17. Totally HOT! Good god,holidays do fade away rather quickly,so keeping yourself busy and uber fabulous with the help of a sewing machine is a splendid way to go!!! LOVE the shorts,so sexacious!You can make a billion pairs!Yee!
    Every detail is frickin' divine,and that Gladstone bag always makes my heart skip a beat!
    Hope the weather improves for you,we're supposed ot be fine today,but wet for the rest of the week.....we'll see!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  18. I love your shorts, you're so good at making them! I can't believe how good you are at finding stuff at jumble sales

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  19. Even in my most leaner and hungrier days hot pants was a clothing item of legend for me.

    But definately rock the hot pants look and think they really rock the hell out of any you could buy. With that lovely long jacket it just looks amazing.

    Really hope the weather dries and warms up soon too. For you the festival season and for us I think there is camping talk going on! Maybe we should do a national sun dance?


    P x

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  20. Hot stuff, well the shorts not the weather. I'm still in thermal socks:(

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  21. How clever are you ?? Your shorts fit perfectly and how stylish, my faves are the chintzy ones. You deserve a medal posing bare limbed like that in these almost Siberian temperatures.

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  22. Dearest Vix,
    your legs were made for hotpants, you have a pair of perfect pins equal to those of a nimble twenty year olds...and so beautifully bronzed too!
    I can't believe how crap the weather has been/is, I usually have the central heating turned off for summer and the winter curtains washed and put away by now but no such luck this year, it's bleedin' horrid!
    I love that glitzy gold brocade and the print of your hooded maxi is just smashing!
    Lot's of love,
    Jennie...xXx

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  23. My dearest friend, I see you are back to your gorgeous self.
    I will be posting from Berlin, but I might not be able to visit so often. You know what it is like, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  24. Vix these hot pants are fantastic, I Love them! xx

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  25. Blimey still so brown, if I ever tan even a smidge, somehow it all gets sucked up into the air-conditioning units on re-entry to Heathrow! Love the shorts - I've been away for the weekend to the country, we were sat in front of a woodburning stove under a blanket!
    x

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  26. What?! You've officially found the BEST shorts ever. Both pairs! Holy cow. I'm in love.

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  27. Both pairs of shorts look fabulous on you and I am in LOVE with that hooded maxi!
    *It's FaNtAsTiC*

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  28. The weather is just crap, isn't it? Thankfully we have your India-bronzed beauty to cheer us up a bit!
    Hotpants from brocade and chintz? Bloody genius, Vix! Unlikely, creative and totally fabulous - much like your good self! And I am very happy to see the boots'n'jerkin combo being rocked in true Vix style.

    I've passed on an award to you, cos I loves ya! xxxxx

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  29. They are fab Vix and go great with your lovely tan. I think third pair would be a great addition to the others.

    X x

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  30. Superhot, and looking great! Have you ever considered starting a 'Vix curtain shorts shop'? I'd be your customer! xoxo

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  31. Great hot pants! Loving the repurposed curtains. I am excited that I can now make myself things too and am already looking for vintage fabrics to make things from - not hotpants though for me - not brave enough for those! :))

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  32. Talk about HOT pants!!!! Definitely knock up another pair. My favs are the floral ones, and they look superb with your holiday tan!!!

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  33. Good god Vix you are so gorgeous. And now I need a pair of chintzy hot pants. Thanks. xo. -Bella Q

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  34. I love both pairs of shorts and that hooded maxi is to die for!

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  35. Your killing me with your gorgeous pins!
    Brocade hot pants and gold are my fave.
    Well all of look stunning on you.
    amazing Indian pendant.
    Buddy found me a thursday boot sale but its been cancelled due to rain.
    Good luck with the boot sale, hope you find loads of treasures.
    Well you dont need luck since your the Queen of the jumble.
    Besios

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  36. Shorts look great on you and I'm so impressed that you made these yourself. The maxi with shorts, boots and pendant are the perfect combination. So good to have you back and blogging!

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  37. I love these shorts! I can't even say which one a best. Perfect!

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  38. I do love how you've made those shorts - the choice of material is lovely! I hope the British weather picks up soon - heard its being more then a little wet there lately x

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  39. LOL, it took me half an hour of scrolling down to get to the bottom of the comments, so I could comment. You have been missed. :D


    Curtains are freaking are made of awesome material. Lace, velvet, brocade... There should be more curtain dresses about. Sounds like a business idea. :D

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  40. The curtain shorts have turned out great and the tiger top is lovely. Your eyes look so pretty in that first photo.

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  41. I love those hot pants on you!
    I salute your seamstress talent i wish i could sew!
    I love how you mixed the last hot pant pic

    Take care my friend

    Ariane xxxxx

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  42. I love those hot pants on you!
    I salute your seamstress talent i wish i could sew!
    I love how you mixed the last hot pant pic

    Take care my friend

    Ariane xxxxx

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  43. Most impressive. You make it sound so casual just to whip up a couple of pairs of shorts that turned out so nicely!

    Loulou

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  44. vix i am just so jealous that you can just whip these up from curtains. first of all, they look absolutely amazing. second, you sewed them!!! i swear while sewing straight lines. and don't even get me started on that indian head w/turquoise pendant. my son alex would kill for that. then he'd sell it at the rose bowl - a place you would love!!! looking forward to seeing your vacation pics and trust me i NEVER say that to anyone.

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  45. "Curtain Couture"!

    That's much cooler that Grandma Fabric, which I've been accused of wearing.

    I LOVE this style of fabric/print & I don't care if not everyone gets it.

    You're rocking those shorts, by the way. Very cute!

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  46. love that you made those hot shorts & love those River Island Boots!

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  47. VIXou should totally sell these. every girl here in the US are rockin the hotpants!
    the dustr is perrection ;)
    hugs
    Reva

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  48. Hurrah for recycling and sewing - you rock those hot pants lady!

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  49. Wow your eyes really pop out in that first photo. Great hot pants, there,s nothing like up~cycling. Great work :)

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  50. Wowza you rock those hot pants!! That hooded maxi is pretty spectacular too. xx

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  51. Some women were born to wear shorts and I think you must be one of them! x

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  52. Take that Scarlet O'Hara!!!

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  53. JAYSUS MARY AND JOSEPH!!! I don't know what I love more - that frickin INCREDIBLE fruity maxi (oh my gourd the fabric makes me cry with joy!) - the gold shorts or the beautiful dainty floral shorts - on your sweet sweet fabulous bodaciosu bod! You look just AMAZING, amor! Can't wait to see your India pics... and so glad you are home - I miss you so! Love you more than fruity maxis! Sarah xxx

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  54. Why didn't Julie Andrews' outfits from curtains look this FAB? Love the hooded maxi -more my speed than hot pants. Do you have a pattern for hot bloomers instead?

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  55. Love the shorts and necklace in both those outfits. You really really have the best jewelry collection! :)

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

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  56. Vix, I wish I could look that spectacular in a pair of hot pants! They are the perfect length and fit that keeps them from looking like hooker wear. Both of these outfits are stellar Vix-styling, but I am in awe of the hooded pink and orange maxi.

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  57. I am in love with your curtain couture! And a perfect idea to pair with wellies; I must thrift another pair for myself soon! The ones I have are huge and I wear them with heavy socks in the winter; I need a pair to keep in the car for wet festival grounds in summer. Wishing you warm, dry weather soon!
    xo, A.

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  58. I do not have a blog, Vix but I fell in love with yours while you were away. I find your style very inspiring! I've been a vintage lover as long as I can remember. Those hot pants are too cute! I'm glad you're back and had a fab time! :)

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  59. oh my....Julie Andrews eat your heart out the Von trapp family would have gone ape over these....don't think any of them had as good a pair of pins as you though!!x

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  60. I love the shorts you've made.
    This weather is awful eh? I need my boot sale fix haha xxx

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  61. Firstly, thank you for such a lovely comment on my blog!

    Love the shorts, never used a sewing pattern before, really should give them a go sometime!

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  62. the short is not a piece that I like much, but you wear it a great ...

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  63. Brilliant shorts love them both. Can we call them hotains or curt pants!

    Also the pattern please or the sewing steps as imlove the style!! Xx

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  64. Can`t believe you just sew two pairs of amazing shorts - just like that. It would probably take me weeks! :D They look wonderful on you) and i can`t bloody wait for the photos from India!!! I think I`ll die from the anticipation.

    >'.'<

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  65. Well, check YOU out with the hot pants-skills!!

    Your holiday must seem like a million years ago now that you're back in Blighty.

    Think it might take more than cheery hotpants to cope with the coming summer - can you sew Wellies?!

    Can't wait to see the holiday snaps!

    Ali x

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  66. You are so bloody hot! Love the gold hotties best cos the fabric is so lush x

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  67. Woot-woo! I love both pairs of hotpants, although the first gold pair has got to be my fave.

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  68. Completely in love with those gold hot pants! You've inspired me to practise my sewing skills!

    x

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Lots of love, Vix