Wednesday 21 May 2014

Lets Be Frank - My Finds Of The Fair


 You'd be forgiven for thinking Frank Usher only produced those '80s heavily sequined blouses much beloved of ladies of a certain age with a penchant for cruises but you'd be wrong. Frank Usher opened in 1946 and quickly gained a reputation for knocking up quality yet affordable versions of catwalk fashions, including designs by Ossie Clark.


 This voluminous sleeved silk maxi is from the early 1970s and just one of my finds from the Kiki & Honey's vintage fair last weekend.


On Saturday I wore this 1960s Jean Allen silk maxi which I'd snapped up at Stockport's Vintage Village the week before.

Silk maxi dress worn with bastard massive earrings from Walsall market

Within minutes of setting up our pitch I clocked these hand-painted vintage clogs on the stall next door-but-one in my size for a fiver!


Then I spotted this Pucci-esque Peterson Maid of London chiffon beauty from Vintage Boutiquilicious.

Photo nicked from Kiki & Honey
To further increase my excitement I was awarded Fifi, the crochet poodle I'd won in the Guess The Name of The Poodle competition the girls from Create Some Time ran at the last fair.


....and if that wasn't enough and I purchased a few more maxi dresses before closing time when the lady running the charity stall made me an offer I couldn't refuse (a selection of which are hanging out to dry right now).


...but before you think I'm going to drown under a sea of vintage clothes, I am following my own rules and have already removed double the number of frocks from my wardrobe which I'll be taking to Wolverhampton's Street Food & Flea Market on Saturday.

Frank Usher maxi (Twist & Pout Vintage) worn with 1970s St Michael silk shopper (courtesy of Clare from Miss Simmonds Says), Candy-coloured suedette platforms (local boutique, 2012, £5), Vintage Ted Lapidus sunglasses (One of two pairs bought from Acorns Hospice shop, 2009), 1960s Danish choker (£1, Newport vintage fair)
Its Wednesday, the weather's glorious and its time for rum & coke on the lawn.

If you haven't voted Vix yet please, please do....there's a tweedophile snapping at my heels. If you have, thank you so much!

Updated to link to Bella's Shop Secondhand link up because everything but Fifi is!
Also linking to Sacramento's Share in Style: Red.

76 comments:

  1. You can't go wrong with a vintage maxi dress!

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  2. Ooh wow what an amazing dress Vix! Perfect for the lovely weather we're having at the moment :)

    That washing line is glorious - no manky pants loitering there!

    I know what you mean about people snapping at your heels - the blog category is ruthless! :p

    Go Vix, go!

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  3. Oh That Frank Usher dress is a dream! I've seen some fab stuff from that label - pre-1980s, mind, and that dress is a beauty. You're definitely on a roll with the frocks, the Jean Allen and Peterson Maid maxis are splendid too, such great colours. And your clogs are funky and fabulous!
    What a great line of washing, loving the look of the yellow/orange print one 3rd from the right.
    Fifi looks right at home joining in with your night out - in fact, she looks a bit pissed. No change there then.
    I keep checking the voting stats, rather obsessively if truth be known. Is 100 votes enough of a cushion to stop Tweedy Tache Man overtaking you at the last minute? I'd rather your lead was unassailable - come on, people, VOTE! Love yooooou xxxxx

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  4. That Frank U. dress is so gorgeous!!!!! Your 1 in 2 out rule is brutal!!!

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  5. What a haul!! Those clogs are fantastic. Good for you for sticking to a "buy some/let some go" rule. I call it "The Great Wheel of Stuff". although I need to get my wheel going again and get rid of some clothes that are clogging it up!

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  6. Oh man, the Pucci-esque dress is DIVINE! Your vintage filled washing line is a sight to behold. Are we going to be seeing you in the frilly lilac nightie? xxx

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  7. Hi my dear!! Wow, the Frank Usher maxi is totally gorgeous, as usual you look really lovely in all of your dresses and well done on bagging all of these rare vintage goodies! Love your curtain couture post too, what an awesome find from the booty! Have a great week! xx

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  8. You are such a divine "creature" ! Great spring colours . The clogs are real dutch clogs arnt they ?
    I have had glourious wednesday to , had my bikini on today !
    xxx

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  9. I think that dress is one of my favourites on you, its fabulous.

    And what great finds. I may well be up to see what goodies you have this weekend, just don't tell hubby I'm about to spend his money! lol

    X x

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  10. Those sleeves omg Vix there are way too many beautiful dresses here, I'm kinda dying of envy right now. You look fresher than any gal I've seen on any runway anywhere, you rocked so many gorgeous looks this weekend. I love the hot pink and blue maxi and your hair up, the ear rings!!!! And the the clogs, which by the way are a great height for you, very practical....hahaha these are practical and yet look at how funky they are!

    I want all the dresses on the line dammit!!!! I have been still abiding the same rule too Vix and got rid of two HUGE bags this weekend to make room for the beauties I've found lately. So many beautiful dresses so little closet space.
    I love you buckets, and let's chat tomorrow!!!
    XXXXOOOOO

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  11. You must have the most colourful washing line in the UK, Vix! That Frank Usher dress is just stunning, what amazingly fresh Spring colours. The other dresses aren't half bad either!

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  12. You suit maxi dresses so well! I can't wait to see some of the ones hanging on the line on you. My OH has a phobia of huge earrings, I might show him that one pic of you later to terrify him a bit! P x

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  13. What an amazing array of frocks. You look divine. Love Fifi and those clogs are bonkers but in the best way possible. Voted. Xx

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  14. That spring coloured Frank Usher maxi is so you! Loving the clogs too. I know a few people who'd have climbed over you to get at those :)

    Aww, the poodle!

    Have a wonderful Wednesday with with rum and coke xx

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  15. You look like a lovely bouquet of Spring in the Frank Usher dress. I love the colours of the Jean Allen maxi. I've had no luck finding any vintage that fits me these days - every thing I like is too small in the chest and waist. Those clogs are one of the wildest pair of shoes I've seen in a long time - of course you would scoop them up.

    If you can get the address of the tweedy man who is challenging your lead, I'm sure we can send someone over to talk some sense into him.

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  16. Both the beloved and me have voted!

    Enjoy the rum and coke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxL2uNr7bk

    In France I had a mojito - yum yum!

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  17. Love the Frank Usher dress..a beauty. Your other maxis are gorgeous too...top finds. I do love to see a nice line of washing.
    The clogs remind me of the pair I had years ago painted by a hippy in Wales. Brilliant.
    I'm on the rum and coke too. Cheers babe.
    xxxxxxx

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  18. Beautiful dresses - you can tell the first one is superior quality. Voted weeks ago. Rooting for ya! Xo

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  19. hi Vix

    Your glamour brightens my day every time I read xxxx

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  20. I stitched up a few dresses just like the one you are wearing, it was 1973 I was sixteen and I had maxi's and mini's in my closet, What memories you brought back, you look so good in all of them, so much fun, you have a dress up day everyday!

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  21. That green floral is just amazing! I love it! :)

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  22. That frock is exquisite Vix, you look sensational. I'd love a closer look at that washing line before the frocks find new homes, maybe not... had a clearout meself today. Ooeerrr, well you know what I mean! The cat's on the keyboard again, forgive me if the text is all over the place like a mad woman's breakfast. xxxxx

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  23. Holy shizzer, that green and yellow number is DIVOON! And feck ME-what a haul of gorgeous frockage you've picked up! Bugger getting rid of any, just sort more storage space!!!
    The Poodle is hilarious, and so apt!!!
    Rock the hell ON!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  24. Your washing line is the prettiest in the state! And your maxis are fabulous, but I hold my highest WOW for those new clogs - they are dream makers! xox

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  25. Phwoar, you do maxis like no one else!!!! X

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  26. Fab frocks and the sleeves on the Frank Usher are soooo lovely. xxx

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  27. We all learned about water cycle in school, now we are learning about frock cycle at "Vix school"! :)

    The FU dress is mind blowing. The sleeves, the colors - everything! The red/pink/orange dress is sooo pretty! The clogs - ohhh!!! Can't wait to see how you'll be styling them.

    You are gorgeous! Now, Vix, we all voted for you. Please win. You can't let so many votes go to waste. OK? :)

    Much love xxx

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  28. I'm just living all the spectacular colour in these gorgeous dresses. But that Jean Allen dress is divine and it suits you perfectly ... you look like a supermodel :0)
    xx

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  29. What kind of magical powers do you have that make all the most beautiful dresses float into your garden and then fit perfectly onto your gorgeous bangin' bod?! I have voted for you and I have implored my twitter followers to vote for you, too. Tweed. Humph!!! We don't want no stinking' tweed. We want VIX <3

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  30. geez, I'd say something, but I gotta go vote.

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  31. Love that Pucci-esque number... and of course all those baubles!

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  32. The Frank Usher dress is so pretty. I love the sleeves. All your new dresses are gorgeous, in fact. Good for you.

    Hope you enjoyed your Rum and Coke! :) xo

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  33. Your recent vintage frock acquisitions are fabulous! I spy one of the gorgeous maxis hanging to dry that appears to be the colour currently called Radiant Orchid - perhaps a half a century ahead of its time? Beautiful! The feelings must be a wonderful having those beautiful vintage silk maxis on. The colours and the prints of both the Jean Allen silk maxi and the Frank Usher maxi are beautiful, and I love those uniquely shaped puff sleeves. I love those big sunnies you were wearing too. Of course I voted for you, and you're very welcome too.

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

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  34. That Frank Usher dress is gorgeous! But I like everything you wear in this post! I was just thinking that if I decided I was going to wear vintage I'd be naked. 'Cause it's pretty scarce around here and when it does show up it comes in tiny Vix sizes.
    xoxo

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  35. Clapping wildly over the hand painted vintage clogs .
    Yes I definitely have voted ~ go Vix go !!
    Now I need to back track ~ looks like I missed a post

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  36. Those dresses are beautiful. I really like the green one, its so summery! :-)

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  37. I'm going ga-ga for your gowns. Lime green silk with puffed sleeves? Be still my heart. Pucci-esque chiffon? And poodle thing? Your energy has a tractor beam that sucks in awesomeness.

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  38. I thought of you last weekend. i live in France and every Sunday morning at this time of year I am doing the rounds of the Brocantes and Vide Greniers.Most often a load of tat but last week I saw a lady sellng all vintage -- 70s clothes, blouses with big bows etc.
    Love to look at your purchases but would not have the bravery to wear them.
    Your fabric bag reminded me of one I made for my dresmaking Olevel and there was a dress to match!!
    Sue

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  39. The silk maxi with print in yellow and green is just amazing! Love its sleeves design. No less gorgeous are other dresses that you were so lucky to find.

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  40. How many times have I seen you in a dress and thought, no, now THAT really is my favourite lol. Sufficient to say, I really love this silk maxi, especially the sleeves (and the cloggs are just crazy haha).
    V
    xxx

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  41. Gorgeous, gorgeous! the Frank Usher is divine, sooo beautiful, the dresses are all flaming divine, I got a little excited by them all hehe! I can't help it, they are all magnificent and perfect for you! I adore fifi, isn't she just fabulous! Vix to Win!!!!!!!! (we have all voted!!) x x x

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  42. Love that Frank dress and the clogs. I've always had a bit of a thing for clogs. I have a yellow pair that I love. Voted for you a while back ... good luck!
    M x

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  43. Those clogs! That lavender silky maxi! Er, the poodle, not so much to my taste but I'm sure it took hours to create.

    What/who is a 'tweedophile', please? Are there followers of Margaret Rutherford in the British vintage world?

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  44. OMG !!! gorgeous dress , gorgeous Vix, fell in love with the pink poodle, have a good weekend and bank holiday xxx.

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  45. When I'm speechless, i just copy what Helga says, and she says Holy Shizzer. She's right. Bloody ding dong, those frocks are just the best. You look divine. I want the Frank Usher and the Jean Allen, but i'm prepared to negotiate and just have the Frank Usher. For now. Honestly, you have the best wardrobe. Now i want to see what you're chucking out. Fifi is hilarious! I had a pair of red or dead clogs years ago which were like that, what a bargain! Xxxxxxxx

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  46. Wwooow! You're a vision of loveliness in those frocks and I think you shoukd be official fashion ambassador of the 1970s.

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  47. Gorgeous dresses, you lucky thing! You already have my vote Vix, I have my fingers crossed for you x

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  48. This dress is simply amazing!
    Hard to find here unless ordered online! God you are lucky with your vintage finds
    You are so fabulous!

    Hugs

    Arianexo

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  49. Oh woah how fabulous are those clogs?! What an amazing find for a fiver! Amazing frank usher dress too, its nice to see something other than those '80s sequinned numbers!

    Lally X

    lallymacbeth.blogspot.co.uk

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  50. so so lovely vix. my first dog was a poodle named fifi. :)

    i've voted but am intrigued with the tweedophile.

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  51. The seventies fashion era was made for you! The silk maxi is gorgeous, also love the clogs! My sister used to have a similar pair growing up.x

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  52. Now that is one incredible frock! That print and those sleeves! Amazing. And I love that green bag too. I'm glad that among the busyness of selling you are able to score some new old frocks. Xx

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  53. oh yeah, both silk maxis are Awesome, particularly love the yellow-green printed one with fabulous sleeves!, and also love your chiffon pucci-esque beauty, wonderful print!!
    You're a Vintage Star, and look so gorgeous!!
    And your red clogs are so funny, they look like summer festival shoes, really made for a walk through green prairies and some hippy style dance!!
    wish you a successful saturday, dear lady!!
    besos & prints!

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  54. I need to adopt your method of one-in, two-out for new things, or i'm at risk of drowning in clothes.
    Love that green and yellow maxi!

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  55. I love the Frank Usher dress, it's such a pretty pattern and shape, looks great on you.

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  56. you are a ray of sunshine even in the rain!!x

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  57. I bow before the Queen of Vintage Maxi Dresses!!!

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  58. Oh that top dress is just too awesome!! I'm almost mad that it's vintage because that means I can't just run to the mall and pick up one for myself!!

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  59. SO MANY PRETTIES!! I love that green and yellow frock best of all though. Even your washing line looks incredible!

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  60. Beautiful dresses, and what incredible shoes!

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  61. You look so beautiful in this outfit... it's the colours, the nice light, everything!

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  62. That dress is truly Frank Fantastic.......the colours on you are gorgeous.........gosh you wear 70's maxi dresses so so well Vix........beautiful.
    Eeeekkkk the clogs are wonderful.
    Hope the weekend is super.....love v
    PS if I was your neighbour I would be sneaking a peek over your fence all the time to see all that vintage on the clothes line....snigger....

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  63. You get more beautiful with every post, and are like the Pied Piper of lovely frocks - they just follow you home! I love your new puppy :D

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  64. Love that 60s maxi in your second outfit! I love how you rock all the bright, fun, and unique prints.

    Sincerely,
    Sabrina

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  65. your like a breath of fresh air with that lime and yellow maxi! gorgeous!

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  66. Thank you sooooooooooo much, my gorgeous queen Vix for linking up, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    Happy Sunday and tons of love
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

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  67. You look so amazing in everything! Your style is perfection x

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  68. Your style is just perfection! You look amazing in everything. I live near stockport and I love the vintage market!

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  69. You look so amazing in everything! Your style is perfection x

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  70. Ooohh, you're in maxi heaven there!I love the sleeves on that Frank Usher number especially xxx

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  71. Love that maxi; it looks great on you! And I love the photo of all the pretty clothes hanging on the line! Artistic and creative I say. Debbie @ ilovemylemonadelife.com

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  72. A very pretty dress and a wonderful washing line! The pink nightie (I assume it's a nightie) looks gorgeous!

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  73. Fantastic dresses, especially the Frank Usher!

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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