Blame my hormones and the crap weather but despite adoring this groovy 1970s maxi dress darling Curtise gave me I just didn't feel the love when I tried it on.
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| Courtesy of Google Images |
In an old interview Keith Richards told of how he used to slash his old jeans and sew in panels of fabric to make them into bell bottoms. I decided to take inspiration from the master and do the same with my frock.
First off, in the spirit of Keef, I knocked back half a bottle of Chardonnay before I ripped open the sleeve seams to the armpit, cut a 1970s triangular scarf (in an almost identical print) into two and sewed it into the open sleeve seam.
What do you think? A lady in a charity shop stopped me this morning and said, "If you tell me you found that dress in Walsall I might have to kill you", which to a Black Country bird that's a compliment.
I'm linking to Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday!
I'm linking to Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday!
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| Afghani beads from Tamera, hair feathers from British Heart Foundation |
I think I'm inspired by Keith more than I think,
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| Courtesy of Google Images |
That necklace looks suspiciously like one of mine.
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| Dragon ring from Krista |
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| Courtesy of Google Images |
My hands in twenty years time? Minus the fag but undoubtedly with the arthritis.
What's up with these pictures? The sun's made a brief appearance and bleached my face out.
Here's today's charity shop insanity:
I wonder what the cute young bloke following me around Acorns Hospice thought I was up to with a floral bra and a back scratcher?
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| Pimped-up frock worn with 1970s Madeira souvenir basket (£1.95, Acorns Hospice), suedette shoe boots (£1, car boot sale), fringed 1970s shawl, chopped up to make sleeves (£1.95, Walsall Hospice) and a heap of ethnic bling. |
As Keith once said, “I'm all for a quiet life. I just didn't get one.” Amen to that!
Have a fab weekend, see you soon.
Bloody genius! That scarf is perfect - if you hadn't told us, I would never have known that you had added those fabulous angel sleeves! Love the back scratcher (I'm a bit obsessed with them!) and the crazy turban hat. Have a splendid weekend, amor, have an idiotic pear cider for me! Love you more than fab maxis! Sarah xxx
ReplyDeleteI am impressed with how well that scarf matches the dress....it was obviously meant to be!
ReplyDeleteAlso, that bakelite back scratcher is truly bizarre and brilliant! xx
Oh yuss...that works a treat!
ReplyDeleteA floral bra and a backscratcher...he probably thought all his Christmases had arrived at once!
Have a fab weekend, gorgeous.
xxxxx
Awespme job Vix!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my god - that is the best title ever! J'adore Keef. And I love what you've done to that dress. Me & Mr TNMA went to see the Rolling Stones photography exhibition at Somerset House last week. Mr TNMA bought a Keef t-shirt, might have to nick it. Have a rocking weekend x
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job of it! I like the way Keith thinks, might make some nice flares for my male friends with panels of retro fabric in them. Xxx love from me and chomby
ReplyDeleteYou get everything sooooooooooo cheaply! I'm coming back so I can visit this mystical Salvation Army shop when it's open! Excellent job on the dress, it looks stunning and the scarf matches perfectly. Keef would be proud and probably try to touch you xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteGood job on the dress Vix, the marvellous Keith would no doubt be impressed!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful chazza shop swag as always too.
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
L x
Damn near perfect match! Love me some Keith and those photos! He sure looked good. We used to do the same thing to our jeans, back in high school (early 70's...yikkies!)And when the jeans got too trashed, we'd cut the legs off and make shoulder bags out of them.
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Love the idea of getting into charcater first with the wine!
ReplyDeleteI am glad the sun came your way at last.
I love the boots you found today.
LOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteSo Glam. Can't wait to see you in that floral bikini top, summer is here next week.....
ReplyDeleteThis is great! Love it :)xxx
ReplyDeleteLove the DIY inspiration. I must ask myself 'what would Keith do' more often.
ReplyDeleteThat floral top is insane! Festival attire?
x
Your posts + my cup of espresso = bliss!
ReplyDeleteI remember doing the exact thing to my jeans back in the early 70's. The fabric was yellow with some kind of cool pattern. The problem happened when the wash shrunk the Levis and they ended up way too short after all that hand sewing. Bummer!
I so wish I could find dresses like that!!!
I think Keef would be inspired by you. I love the transformation- and now I think Curtise and Keith and You in one beloved breath. Happy Weekend dear Vix! xoxoxo.
ReplyDeleteI love the sleeves on that maxi!! X
ReplyDeleteLove what you have done with the frock, its looks great!
ReplyDeleteDx
This post will be my treasure, your frock is beyond fabulousness and the fact that Keith Richard himself gives you the inspiration is awesome, I must try both his DIY jeans style and your amazing DIY pimped sleeves!!
ReplyDeleteYou look so gorgeous in these photos! In Italy we usually say: "The sun kisses only the beautiful ones!" and it's true worldwide!
I love all your finds especially the turban hat, here hats like that are super rare!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Peace & Love
Fabulous customisation!! You are clever.
ReplyDeleteI worked for Virgin Record company many many years ago when Keith Richards visited, my boss who was due to meet him was overwhelmed. I didn't meet him but when the boss came back in, Keith was walking across the car park, mmm ok slightly stumbling, my boss shouted Hey Keith bye, Keith stumbled round and stuck two fingers up, probably the coolest thing I'd ever witnessed in my life at that time ha ha! I have to say my boss was cool and wasn't offended and thought it was funny! I know he's wrecked himself but man he IS cool!
very cool...am listening to Marianne Faithful doing month of Sundays on 6 music catch-up....lots of stories about her and Mick and Keith et al...and uber good music too!! x
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome haul of goodies--loving the floral bikini top!!
ReplyDeleteAt least you drank Chardonnay ala Keith as opposed to shoot up heroin ala Keith!!
I remember doing that to jeans!! And making maxi-skirts out of old bellbottoms!
The dress is FABULOUS--I would've never known you had altered it!!
Have fun at the pub!
Tamera
You have totally outdone yourself with this dress. I love the added panels and what it did to the sleeves. Keith Richards has seen and been through a lot and he keeps on keeping one, just like you....bring on the new adventure!!!! I am also loving your basket bag with the big flowers, so pretty and it totally rocks with the dress. I can't wait to see what Black Country is all about, I love it already because that is where you are from. Have you ever heard that song from Black Sabbath"Fell in love with a country girl"? I'm changing the lyrics to fell in love with a black country girl....I miss you and I will be hugging you soon!
ReplyDeleteXXOO
Lotsoflove~
Krista
Inspired as ever, Vix! I did think the sleeves on that dress seemed particularly narrow, so you have done the most fabulous job pimping them up, and it works so well with the feel of the frock.You look like a bewitching hippy goddess, I have no doubt at all that Keith would heartily approve!
ReplyDeleteFlowery boobs again, darling? Just paint them, like the ladies at the fair Krista went to, save yourself 75p, haha! I have the feeling you are going to do something amazing with that towelling cape... And I LOVE the little back scratcher!
Enjoy your very messy weekend, you beautiful man-magnet you! xxxxxxxxxxxx
I think you and Keith are soul brother & sister! Love what you did to the dress, the pattern mixes perfectly and changing the sleeves definitely added some pizazz. I think that was the ultimate compliment you received from the woman in the charity shop! I'd have definitely snagged that hat. Enjoy your messy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI love your thought processes on this one! And the fabric sleeve was a good match.
ReplyDeleteMmm never realised that Keef was such a looker in his yoof! He has always slightly scared me before now! lol. Although why as I had a bit of a Steven Tyler crush back in the early 90's, they look like brothers now! he he he must of been all that hard living.
Hope you have a beautiful mess of a weekend.
P x
You are all sorts of genius doingbthatbsleeve job and how lucky to have a scarf in sucha splendidly matching print. I'm am swooning over the print on the towelling cape. Your bag is perfect for summer and the beach.
ReplyDeleteLove what you did with the dress.........much much better!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the words of wisdom, I think I am going to have to make myself a little sign that says ...
"What would Keith do?"..Life just might get a bit more interesting!!!
Brilliant ;-) You did a smashing job on the dress you look gorgeous. That hat did make me chuckle day i seem to have a thing for hats at the moment. Have a fab weekend and enjoy the sun while its here, dee xxx
ReplyDeleteSo funny, I thought you had run across a copy of the book by the same title! Love that you got inspired by Keith to do this (of course I would, you know of my Keith love!) as well as your tribute to get in the mood! Fab job, and as always I'm freaking amazed at what you find at the prices you find them. We used to do this to our jeans in the 70s. We did all kinds of wacky stuff to keep our fav pairs going. While I love Keith's hands, I do hope you'll escape that fate, arthritis sucks! XXX Suzanne
ReplyDeletelove this post as much as i love keith ...
ReplyDeletebig hug
http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.de
love keith's style and yours as well!
ReplyDeletexx,
Hybid Hunter
+GIVEAWAY+
What Wouldn't Keith Richards Do?
ReplyDeleteI love the dress and the sleeve inserts are such a good match. Congratulations on your charity shop haul - the changing cape is amazing. Have a fab weekend.
Nikki x
Great idea! & a bit of throat lubrication has made this project even better... Keith would be proud! xoxo
ReplyDeleteyou are so clever! what a great idea to turn the sleeves in megatrompetssleeves! maybe i will try this with a dress of mine too, how great that you had this scarf with the same colours it looks especially unique now! keith what a great inspiration;)
ReplyDeletekiss,mary
Fabulous customising Vix! I love the tonal prints together! xxx
ReplyDeleteFab wine aided revamp as usual Vix! Keith Richards is a dude, but I hope you age better than he has! he he ;) x
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant job, Vix. I love the encouragement of the Chardonnay, jejjejeje. Magic indee.
ReplyDeleteXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Fabulous bikini top, can't wait to see jon in it ;-D The wings on that frock are bloody fabulous, you look gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteKeith Richards - my favourite Stone!! Fab idea, wouldn't have noticed you'd added the sleeves yourself! Could do with a backscratcher - been bitten to death by flies!! x
ReplyDeleteLove your creative fix - and I can just see Keith in that floral bra top! Hey, they were wild days, right?
ReplyDeletegreat inspiration, that sleeves fit fabulously!, and you really rock!
ReplyDeletewish you have a sunny weekend!
besos
That scarf is like MADE for that dress...and trust you to come up with that genius idea!
ReplyDeleteLove the bag!
Thanks so much for dropping by:)
Love,
Shubhi's Revels!
Awesome transformation - I liked the dress to start with, although I might have made it shorter, but it is fantastic with the sleeve inserts!! Your comment about the back scratcher and bikini made me smile, what a bonus to see a cute bloke in the op shop - I can't say I have ever seen one!!! Hope you have a fabulous weekend, enjoy the sun!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever idea, the scarf really goes well with the dress. I'd happily swap the quiet life for a night or two of sex, drugs and rock n roll. Well, maybe not the drugs, but definitely the other two!
ReplyDeleteChrist, you are bloody amazing! The dress was gorgeous but it looks even better now! You're definitely inspiring me to try & be more creative with my wardrobe at the moment!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. XO
I could never tell that was remade with two different materials Vix - great match and what a great transformation too!
ReplyDeleteFrigging brillant transformation!
ReplyDeleteI love thinking about how to improve a not-quite-right frock!Genius!And fancy,that scarf is just about identical indeed!
I don't think I;'ve seen that particular coin bracelet before;I love it!
Keith IS mega inspiring,and he should be proud!(He probably is!)He's got great style,and you channel it beautifully,my darling!!!
Flroal bikini top!!! Freakin' fabulous!I expect that the young buck following you around was hoping you'd model it for him!!!
I'm intrigued by the hat......
And hoping I will be up for a slightly messy night myself tonight,afetr a 12 hour marathon sleep last night!!!
Love Helga xxxXXXxxx
A brilliant dress and even better with the addition of the scarf - you have such an eye for just the right thing. i love those bangles too. Linda xxx
ReplyDeleteyou are a girl after my own heart!! i wish i could hang out with you! xoxo
ReplyDeleteGreat work - I would have never known that you'd DIYed that dress - it looks just perfect!
ReplyDeleteHave a grand weekend:D
That is a Really Fabulous dress! Loving the flow and print. You look Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love what you've done to the dress - very Morticia Addams!
ReplyDeleteMy friend at school used to do that to our jeans for us.
Adding onto the sleeve was an awesome idea, so high five to that! & the fabric matches just perfectly.
ReplyDeleteHope you have an excellent weekend :]
xoxo MaaA wolf.
I like the alterations to the dress--and the scarf is an amazing match! And that floral bra--its much like the one you made several weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to having hands full of, uh, "character."
Well done matching the scarf to the dress, the sleeves look amazing.I had to laugh at the google hand photo, am sure your hands will look nothing like that in even 30 years time. Enjoy your weekend, happy hunting if you are off to a car boot :)
ReplyDeleteWhat wouls Keith Richards do? What relevant question to ask ... every day.
ReplyDeleteSo many fabulous things; where do I begin?! The dress is FANTASTIC. I absolutely adore the sleeves. And the print. And everything else. :D Keith is an excellent guru to have, I do believe.
ReplyDeleteThe bag is beautimous! Ahhhhhh!
Crazy turban has my heart, and floral bikini top is beyond fun. :D Your bracelets make me so happy--as does all of your fab jewelry! LOVE. Enjoy the pub and the weekend, Gorgeous! XOXOXO
I love what you have done to this dress, so clever!
ReplyDeleteDAMN good match on that scarf love! Looks proper fab! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job done there fixing them arms up! As always you carry the style well, in fact I think you suit everything you wear.....arm alterations or not!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.....I'll be swigging the wine back too later Heather xxx
Hi Vix, I have a card to send to you before things get lost in the mountain of house move packing. Please can you email your address to me at valeriehannanbeattie at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteCheers m'dears
V
xxx
Now that was genius, the dress now has a lot more pizzazz!
ReplyDeleteI am going to be quite busy over the next couple of weekends too - how about the 11th or the 18th of August for our blogger date?
What an inspired makeover - the new sleeves really alter the style of the dress. Keith would definitely approve, as do I. (I also approve of the Chardonnay primer!)
ReplyDeleteLove the vinyl handbag. Is the fastening in the shape of a V?
Have a fab weekend!
Annie xxx
Hi Vix, thanks for your lovely comment, you diy that dress well Vix, suits you, I rarely see women and girls wear long sleeved maxi dresses, they all look similiar and just with the boring trend. Your rings and nails look lovely
ReplyDeletewww.personalautographs.blogspot.co.uk
Its great how you matched the scarf to the dress.
ReplyDeleteI love the tan boots but you knew I would love them ha ha x
Oh I love what you did with the sleeves! Keef would be proud! I'm always amazed at your creativity - maybe I should take to downing chardonnay for inspiration...
ReplyDeleteAmazing! What a simple little update to make an awesome dress even more awesome! I never would have guessed that the sleeves weren't originally like that if you didn't say so.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the cute young bloke was hoping you'd include him in the floral bra & backscratcher plans?
Thats definitely what that dress needed a little bit of spunk ~Love what you did to it you look gorgeous ~xx Heather
ReplyDeleteClever work there Vix! The dress looks even more fabulous!! Hope your well! I have missed you. xxx
ReplyDeleteSeeeeeeeeeeee? Curtise was right to give you that gorgeous frockola!!! You have tweaked it and transformed it into an AWESOME I-might-have-to-kill-you frock!! Bloody hell, what an absolutely amazing use for all those scarves so many of us seem to hoard - the colours with the frock - amaze balls!!! You simply MUST put this up for Tah-Dah Tuesday! Gawd I love Keef, The Phoenix and I worship at his alter of gnarled bejewelled fingers that still crank out awesome guitar!!! xoxoxoxooxxooxoxoxoxoxxo
ReplyDeleteIt looks smashing, so glad that you gave this dress surgery Vix! Wonderfully done! xx
ReplyDeleteThat dress is fab.the sleeves look really cool like a kimono.And the pattern is so close too.There is nothing you can't make an origional.xx
ReplyDeleteLooks amazing and that floral bikini! what a find!!
ReplyDeleteoh i love this post vix.
ReplyDeletei cannot get over just how clever you are.
i think you and keith are kindred spirits for sure.
xo
Gorgeous as always!!!
ReplyDeleteox from NYC!
davie+erica
LPFashionPhilosophy
Can't believe I nearly missed this one, genius sewing skills, you could glide between tall buildings in this!
ReplyDeletexx
Oh you genius biatch! The maxi looks like the butterfly angel wings were already sewed in.
ReplyDeleteOooo hand back scratcher and turban hat is my fave, also the changing robe thingy. "I might have to kill you " best comment ever!
Oh congrats on the ethical win! I'm glad you won amor.
Besotes
Just catching up on my blog reading. The way you transformed this dress -- why you could write a book like the Yestermorrow one on refashioning vintage clothes that I just posted about!
ReplyDeleteI knew about Keef and rings, but didn't imagine him wearing an tribal necklace. Why, you are birds of a feather. I often wonder if my seeing images as a child of Janis Joplin with all her bangles is what subconsciously inspired my love of bangles...