Monday 14 April 2014

Boot Sale Tales & Vintage Sales




 There I was on Thursday morning, arse in the air, rifling through a box of old tat at the car boot sale when a woman's voice behind me asked, Like 1960s and 1970s clothes, do you? 


We promptly struck up a conversation, swapped numbers and earlier today I went round to her place to buy a heap of gorgeous vintage clothes she'd inherited from her aunt. This amazing cape dress was just one of the treasures, here's most of the rest:


Getting up at the crack of dawn to stick on false lashes, do my hair and pick out something fabulous to wear isn't the behaviour of a mad woman, its the best way to get access to the good stuff. I doubt I'd get offers like this if I shuffled around dressed in the standard car booting attire of  scraggy pony tail, grotty jeans and a hoodie.


Anyway enough about me, how about Kinky's weekend?


Yes, it really, really, really is!


The mural and this groovy corner were snapped at Seven Miles Out, an amazing arts centre & cafe directly opposite the Victorian covered market hall that is Stockport's Vintage Village.

Kinky's pitch
We met so many cool folk and, despite it clashing with a big football match, sold loads. We enjoyed every minute. The good people of the North West really love their vintage.

What we wore:

I wore a 1970s psychedelic Corky Craig of California maxi dress Krista-licious gave me along with my cape-tain (seen HERE) and a shed load of junk jewellery, including my favourite recycled fruit wrapper bangle from the super groovy Señora Alnutt and my hoop earrings from Queen Helga.


Jon's shirt is a 1960s Carnaby St original from darling Curtise. His trousers were from the sweetest Squirrels and the Crimplene For Men safari jacket was nicked from Kinky Melon's stock room. His eBayed R Sole boots are his pride and joy.

1970s turquoise cape dress with a St Michael floral shopper (from Clare)
A busy week ahead beckons. We're restocking Blighty Bazaar and preparing for the Vintage Easter Fair in beautiful Bridgnorth, Gilbert's being naughty and needs a damn good seeing to and, as you can see from the state of that pot, the garden needs some serious attention.

See you soon!

Updated to link with Bella's Shop Secondhand First 'cos I do! 

74 comments:

  1. Heheh! What ever gave her that idea? What a great haul you got.
    I'm so glad the weekend was a success for you.
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gutted I missed you! I normally go to this but couldn't yesterday, gah! Good that it went well and that means you will be back, yay! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. That dress is AMAZING!

    So gutted I couldn't make it down there to see you :( But looks like you had an amazing day.

    One day we will meet!! :) xxx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Vix, I command you to keep that dress for yourself. Pleeeeeease.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Haul!! Dontcha love it when that happens? I have so many vintage fabric deals that way.
    You look gorgeous in blue, you really do....mind, you look tasty in everything including the Krista frock and the wondrous cape-tain.
    Look at all that vintage...that's the way to do it.
    Have a fab week.
    Counting down the days now!
    Loves ya!
    xxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. As always you look so great ! But .... today i think that Jons boots are the winners ! I love them !
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ohhh, I wish I'd known you were at Vintage Village! We've not been for ages and would have loved to see the Kinky Melon stall for real. A few of the traders there buy stuff from us - our friends are at Snyggstyle (really cool stall!). Hope you had fun. x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your psychedelic dress and the blue one as well ... Very nice shirt Jon's wearing ...Both of you look just so original !
    How come maxi skirts and frocks are so easy to find over there ?
    Wish it were the same over here !!

    ~ Second hand greetings ~

    ~ La Dryada ~

    ReplyDelete
  9. I always believe what you give is what you get back, so you put out good vibes and get that amazing haul of clothes!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Like 1960s and 1970s clothes, do you? How wonderful and what treasures it happened to lead to.

    Quite right, worth getting yourself out there for.

    ReplyDelete
  11. If I were there that would be me in the hoodie and grotty jeans. :) Ok, maybe not. Great score on the haul from that lady. If we ever get back to the NW I will have to head to the Manchester or Liverpool area for vintage - there's just none in the Lytham-St. Anne's area, in spite of the breadth of charity shops. Pretty turquoise frock! Xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh hello most perfect shade of blue on you ever! xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. You look fantastic in that blue cape dress, you should definitely keep it. Glad you had a good weekend. xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brilliant vintage haul, you look lovely. Love Jon's shirt.
    Twiggy x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cor that cosy corner reminds me how trendy my parents were in the 70s, we had bright orange carpet with a pink fleck!!! the pattern on the chairs looks very familiar, could it be we had curtains in that pattern I wonder? I had totally forgotten my own mother and her kaftans, jangling bangles and waist length plaits that she wound round her head - as a child growing up I cringed at my 'hippy' parents but looking back I think they were pretty cool! Your blue dress is wicked, I looked on Kinky Melon website today but no stock - that must mean you sold a bucket load. Good luck with the next one - if only you toured the South East/London... Betty x

    ReplyDelete
  16. You're not the only one with pots like that! What a spectacular haul of vintage frocks and you deserve to bag the lot after all the effort you make. Pleased to hear you had such a great weekend, you look blinding in that stunning blue number and I love Jon's shirt, our Curtise has such good taste. The male characters in that mural have very disturbing eyes.
    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow that's quite a haul isn't it, I love the black dress with the embroidery/sequins? Isn't it Helga who says 'If you look nothing less that shaggable then don't go out!' You look lovely in the photo after the 'haul' pics. Love that blue on you.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Add my vote for keeping that blue dress. It's stunning on you! I am mad for paisley so I love the other dress you wore too. Such a good thing you were waving your polyester bum in the air and caught that woman's attention. I love that black dress and the one with blues and greens.
    If I were at the car boot sales I would wear my best hoodie, not my grotty one!
    xo

    ReplyDelete

  19. Kinky Mellon's pitch and the market hall of Stockport's Vintage Village look amazing.
    Jon looks spiffy in that handsome Crimplene For Men blue safari jacket from Kinky Mellon's Retro Boutique. Both your 1970s psychedelic Corky Craig of California maxi dress and your newly acquired 1970 turquoise cape dress looks lovely. Your hairstyle was beautiful too.
    The haul of vintage frocks you acquired is fabulous! I love the bright yellow colour, gathered neck and fluttery sleeves of the vintage maxi-dress that's shown 12th in the image of 15 (bottom row, second from the left). They are indeed vintage treasures - pretty and colourful. Well done you with your early rising, wardrobe choices and you and Jon with Kinky Mellon.


    http://www.full-brief-panties.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think you and Jon are unofficially the official spokespeople for the #secondhandfirst lifestyle! You both look amazing (I love Jon's shirt!) and it warms my heart to see you thrive in the rail sales. Hugs to you Vix!

    ReplyDelete
  21. See, there's nothing like dressing to show your personality for making good stuff happen! And if you're going to stick your arse in the air, it helps to have a cheeky one clad in something gorgeous! What a great haul of dresses, I'm eyeing up several, especially the yellow, orange, green print, and purple maxis. (Are they all Vix-sized? If not, let me know and I might be making you an offer!)
    Love the blue cape-sleeved frock, it's utterly beautiful on you.

    Stockport looks fabulous, as of course do you and GB; the Krista frock plus cape look spectacular! I'm putting the next Vintage Village in my diary, I'll try and get over to see you!
    No rest for the wicked, there's always stuff to do, but I have faith you'll get it all done, and more. Love you! xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  22. You look simply STUNNING in that blue dress! I love the cape detail and the colour. And look at all those maxis! What a visual feast of colour. Are you keeping the canary yellow one? - it would look fab on you too.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovin' the hue blue & style, gorgeous:)!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  24. wow - loads of fab clothes!
    that lady made a good choice by the cover ;-)
    princess-like cape dress.....you look beautiful in turquoise!!!!!
    glad you had a great fair!
    <3

    ReplyDelete
  25. Both you and Jon look delicious. I am gasping at the vintage finds you just acquired. The green dress with red and green sleeves is too amazing! xox

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm quickly posting a comment before my screen freezes which it bloody nearly always does at the moment.. WOW what an awesome load of new frocks. What a nice woman she must've been! LOVE them all!!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  27. OMG OMG OMG!!! SCORE!!! Christmas in April!

    Please tell me what the size of that orange maxi dress is. And please tell me it is small. Let me know the price. As long as the keyhole doesn't show too much of my chesticles I think I might be able to rock that MF and of course would pay shipping and handling : )

    There is not a chance in hell that anyone in my neighbourhood would come around and ask a question like that. Neighbourhood is too young. The oldest stuff I'd get would be something from the mid 90's. LOL

    BTW I took a cue from you and decided to just wear all of my bracelets on my arms. Oh yeah. You could hear me coming a mile away. Plus it kind of counts as a workout...right?

    The blue is gorgeous on you.

    LOVing your man's shirt BTW.

    bisous
    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  28. You two are living the dream!
    And I just realized I could see the same stuff you find/wear and not recognize it as great until I see it on YOU. YOU are the "secret"! I'm sure of it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a fab haul of vintage! She certainly found the right home for her inheritance, didn't she?!

    ReplyDelete
  30. You look amazing in this dress!!! What a wonderful aunt who collected such brilliant dresses which found their way to YOU! :-) Such a great story! Jon looks handsome in his outfit too, I love the print of his shirt!

    Have a wonderful week, my dear! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. OMG the mother vintage load goes to the most deserving beautiful vintage babe! The blue one you are wearing is a dream on you as are all the rest. Holy hell! You and Jon both look so cute in your finest vintage stuff and I love that you wore my dress:) I think all your stuff is a bang of color and who could not stop for a look.

    I'm glad that despite the ballers you still sold loads. I love you honey!!!! Jon is a fox in those snakeskin boots:)
    MISSYOUTOO!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Yes, you do look simply stunning in that blue cape dress, really beautiful. I can see why you love blue so much. I recently missed out on a fab John Charles cape dress on ebay. I was literally taking measurements (would have fitted perfectly) and when i got back to the computer, it had gone. This is the most amazing haul and you've just explained perfectly why they come to you. She must have been so thrilled to find you too. Oh, that's the shirt Curtise had on her blog about a week ago. It's really great to see it in Jon. Well done on conquering the NW! Only about 8 regions to go I reckon! Xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  33. FECK ME! That is the MOST heavenly frock-what a perfect shade of blue!! And the little cape!! SWOON! Just love it, and it's divoon upon your lucious bod!
    It's true, looking fabularse IS how you score more wonderful goodies to look fabularse in! You do very well at it, but I have had a teensy bit of luck due to frocking up. That's a great haul of frockage, how splendid!
    You pair of hotties; I'd pay just to bathe in your aura!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

    ReplyDelete
  34. That dress is such a lovely shade of blue, you look gorgeous in it! How lucky were you, getting your hands on all those lovely dresses?! It definitely pays to dress up x

    ReplyDelete
  35. you are such a breath of fresh air, you do what you do so well, you make vintage so stylish, it helps that you are beautiful and have such a great figure, you would make a potato sack look great, I think you and Jon are television show in the making, I can see you as a weekly show, I mean that,

    ReplyDelete
  36. The dresses that you bought are all so beautiful, Love the navy one (top row, fourth from left, and the yellow one in the bottom row). Love the blue dress on you, the shade is gorgeous! John looks well put together (no surprises there of course) xoxo.

    ReplyDelete
  37. What a lucky connection to make ... and you're right ... you just never know who you are going to meet ... so dress for success :0)
    I swear if I ever manage to make it over to the UK ... The Kinky Melon will be the first place I visit ... well maybe after Buckingham Palace ;0)
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  38. No shrinking violet behind that lovely bold sunflower shawl ~ blooming lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  39. You are a vision in whatever you put on. I think if I saw you in grotty jeans I'd faint. What an incredible stash the aunt had hidden away - at least now these things are in safe hands. I hope Gilbert behaves himself.

    ReplyDelete
  40. You look so pretty in that blue and your Jon is so cute!! Your pitch looks amazing...wish I was there to shop. Wish you were here! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  41. You look so pretty in that blue and your Jon is so cute!! Your pitch looks amazing...wish I was there to shop. Wish you were here! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  42. I think people like to give their inherited vintge stuff to someone who obviously love it than just to somebody. What a beautiful blue dress and as always, you look just stunning!

    ReplyDelete
  43. That blue frock is absolutely divine on you!!! LOVE it! What wonderful frocks & style that Aunt had. Must be rather tempting to keep some of those beauties. Xx

    ReplyDelete
  44. You and Curtise are making me so homesick for the north west today Vix! I agree with everyone else, that shade of blue is perfect on you, and I like your point that getting dressed up every day lets people know a bit about who you are and what you're about, I think you must give off a friendly vibe too. That was some haul of vintage dresses, I imagine the lady who owned them must have had a lot of fun and parties in her life to have so many lovely outfits. xx

    ReplyDelete
  45. What a gorgeous blue your dress is, and what a great haul of gear you got, Stockport looks great!.
    Vix looking your usual lush self as always, Best wishes xxx.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Gosh what a great haul of clothing! Your so right, if you had looked as manly as most at the car boot that haul would never have been.

    And the blue cape dress looks fabulous, very Vix.

    X x

    ReplyDelete
  47. Stockport vintage fair rocks! what a bugger I now work on a Sunday, bugger! still, I'm chuffed you did brilliantly and got a haul of awesomeness, those outfits are gorgeous! your blue caped dress looks fabulous, it's a gorgeous dress and Jon looks fab, his shoes! just brilliant! x x x

    ReplyDelete
  48. It was lovely to meet you on Sunday at the Vintage Fair. I can confirm that Vix is indeed gorgeous and a glamour puss and has stock to die for. I enjoyed my afternoon there and came away with a stash of fabric at a bargain price. Well worth a visit x x x

    ReplyDelete
  49. I love your cape dress, it's fab! It's almost a relief I am not sylph like, I can safely covert the frocks in the knowledge they will never fit me, I would be very very skint otherwise. x

    ReplyDelete
  50. What a way to get your hands on that collection of excellent clothing! Clearly it is worth the time to get dressed in an interesting way. And what an interestingly dressed pair you two always make. That's a great shot of Jon.

    ReplyDelete
  51. The turquoise dress is amazing on you!
    Every time you post about Kinky Melon stalls I wish I lived in your part of the world to check it all out and meet you two.

    ReplyDelete
  52. So gorgeous in that lovely frock! My fave thing about selling vintage was when someone would ask me to their home to rummage through "the junk" they wanted to get rid of! I once scored about 75 pairs of barely worn 50s & 60s shoes from a socialite in DC -- most sold out completely within the first week! You sometimes make me miss those days, but around here it isn't what it was & is getting harder & harder to find decently priced vintage -- forget about resale, you'd have to mark up to ridiculous prices! XXX
    PS Jon always looks so snazzy!

    ReplyDelete
  53. How I have missed you! You are a breath of fresh air and the lovely blue dress is a stunner. I agree. Dressing like you do, with your radiant personality, is sure to bring vintage collections into your life. What a find!

    ReplyDelete
  54. LOVE the loot..You look amazing, you know with everyone moaning and groaning about the cold and wearing grey, you're one of my greatest inspirations to not be drab no matter what x

    ReplyDelete
  55. Holy cow, you reeeeeealy scored on those dresses!! And you are right---you probably wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to snatch them up if you hadn't been your magnetic, fabulous self :)

    ReplyDelete
  56. Hi my dear!! Well done on bagging that fabulous haul of vintage, some real beauties there!! Love your blue dress too and Jon looks great too, so pleased the vintage fairs are going well!! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  57. YES YES YES!!!! You are gorgeous in that blue dress, Jon looks fab, and I wish so, so badly I could hang out with you. I am doing better at trying to bloom where I'm planted (thank you Bella!) I've started networking here with other thrift/vintage lovers etc. Oh. The dress you scored that has a blue top and printed bottom? Also the black one and darker green one...sizes, price? They look amazing.

    LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  58. Thanks to you and your blummin' amazing Blog I am becomng a more colourful woman! I get dressed in the morning, look in the mirror, think to myself "where's the colour?" and then quickly get changed! You've brought sunshine into my life Vix!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Good gawd everything here is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  60. You are atrue poet of life and the proof that life can be fun and fubulous.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    ReplyDelete
  61. You look bloody GORGEOUS in that dreamy blue cape dress. The caped crusader up to her vintage adventures, finding all the jewels in the car boot sales!

    ReplyDelete
  62. Ever the glamourpuss Vix but Jon is looking mighty dapper here too! Glad to hear you're doing so well :) x

    ReplyDelete
  63. That was a stroke of luck! Plenty of gorgeous, gorgeous dresses in that hoarde.

    Loving both yours and Jon's outfits, that really does look like a brilliant market.

    My garden is a bit out of hand at the moment, I'm hoping to get on with it while the weather's so good.

    Have a lovely day xx

    ReplyDelete
  64. Congratulations! What a lovely haul. So glad you had fun and made a profit! Looking pretty all the while. Of course dressing up is the way to go ... you have that in your DNA, I think.
    I hope the coming week is great every day!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Hi Dear Vix, as always you are splendid in your fabulous dress and I love your great finds! Way to go!!!

    Love,
    Masha

    ReplyDelete
  66. Wonderful tales indeed, and vibrant as always, I love that! I like the cape dress and the textured blue dress with the ribbon at the empire is so pretty. Enjoy the Easter fair. :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  67. It's so true that when you dress like we do, we get approached with all kinds of interesting offers (some we wish we didn't, but you have to take the weird with the awesome). If you were in jeans and ponytail, you wouldn't have all the ladies at the charity shops setting stuff aside for you. Great score on the stuff from the car boot lady!

    I'm so glad to see the Carnaby Street shirt that Curtise scored has found a good home with Jon. Your booth looks jam-packed with vintage goodness - so glad Kinky Melon is doing well.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Vix's Adages to Live By:
    You are what you wear. Or good things come to those that wear them.
    And no one does it better than you, babe.

    ReplyDelete
  69. The blue of that dress is almost as pretty as your smile!! I love it when you smile big like that in your photos!!

    ReplyDelete
  70. oh wow! are any of those beauties for sale on the website? the 2nd and 5th one look very pretty!
    my reoccurring dream is walking into an opshop of adorable 60s clothing and shoes! All of the lovely things you see in magazines and pinterest. i think your blighty bizarre would be like that for me!

    ReplyDelete
  71. The original owner of all those vintage frocks must have really loved them to keep them so long - and I bet she is looking down absolutely chuffed that they found their way to you!!
    Even closing my eyes tight and screwing my face up in concentration I just cannot 'see' you in a hoodie. EVER.
    I love Jon's boots!

    ReplyDelete
  72. That blue is just too perfect! You look stunning - I can't seen any reason ever to wear yuck hoodie and pony tail? Hiking? But then I go hiking in a skirt and Dr Martins ;) I hope sometime I will get to visit the Kinky Melons Stall!

    ReplyDelete
  73. I'm not even sure if I've commented already- but I swung around to your page cuz I needed some Vixen sugar and a good dose of cheer and inspiration- which never fails to show up here with me. I love how true to yourself you are, how honest yet immensely kind- and that somehow being true to YOU sheds light on how we can be ourselves here too. Found a little 60s print that reminds me of Krista- need to locate her addy and mail it to her.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix