Getting Hammered

At every vintage fair I hear the same lament, Oh, that's gorgeous but there's no point in me buying it because I don't go anywhere nice enough to wear it. I tell them till I'm blue in the face, you don't need a special occasion, a day without dressing up is a day wasted.

I've been frantically scouring the walls and cupboards round the house to replace the stock we've sold over the weekend. Am I dressed in a skanky pair of jeans to perform such a mundane task? Fat chance, it's vintage all the way.

This 1970s maxi may have been designed by one of Liz Taylor's favourites, Gina Fratini and the V&A may have some of her dresses in their archives but there's no reason not to wear it around the house to hammer in nails and upend drawers. Saving stuff for best is a futile exercise, live for now, who knows what could happen tomorrow?

Despite making some decent sales, the weekend was very quiet. No matter though, for once I had the chance to explore the rails of other sellers, pose for photos, eat Jon's cheese sandwiches uninterrupted and spend some quality time with my vintage family. 

This was Sunday's work wear. Last week the lovely Jennie kindly sent a link to the eBay seller who'd listed this 1960s pure silk maxi as "Vintage dress, size 6, stained" with no reference to the Dollyrockers label. A few hours later I'd won it for £2.99 & the "stain" came out with a damp sponge. Isn't she a star? I feel a bit like a Trechnikoff lady in it.

Roland Joyce maxi skirt worn with '70s gypsy top (75p, Salvation Army), tapestry belt (Helga the Great), Frida Kahlo pendant & African trading bead earrings (Handmade by fabulous Tamera), hair flowers (made by me) and an armful of second-hand plastic bangles.

I snapped up this fabulous Roland Joyce skirt on Sunday for £8 and wore it to work yesterday, Frida Kahlo style. 

I bought this 1970s cowboy shirt for Jon three years ago from a local chazza. It was the first outing for it yesterday, what took him so long?

These are some of my fellow traders and dear friends, too! Claire (in the 1970s green tea dress) and Maisie (in the 1960s mini) are both wearing Kinky Melon purchases - could I ask for more beautiful models? Gorgeous Sharon (in the aqua polka dots) organising Sunday's vintage fair and it's going to be massive!  

I bought the trio of kitsch wooden deer from a jumble sale last year and rediscovered them in the back of a cupboard in the utility room this morning. I've re-jigged my Wall of Random to accommodate them along with the big Vernon Ward swan print I bought for £1 from a car boot sale last Autumn which has languished in the cupboard of doom ever since.

Fratini Designs gauzy maxi dress (£15, yesterday's vintage fair), Lamani coin choker (haggled with a roadside vendor in India)

After two days of work our weekend started last night. It's wine and The Apprentice tonight and pub, beer and curry tomorrow.

Cheers and see you soon!