Being a magpie I buy on impulse, never shopping with a fixed plan, hence a wildly impractical wardrobe stuffed with clashing colours and crazy prints. Clothes can hang around unworn for ages until an item comes along which, when combined with something I already own, makes for a half decent outfit.
Take my '70s Moss Crepe & satin jacket. I spotted it in Second To None and immediately fell for its Deco-inspired 1930s tailoring. June told me that it came from a local house clearance, a sprawling Victorian villa belonging to a lady who worked as a croupier, smoked 60 fags a day and died at the grand old age of 95. With a provenance like that it just had to be mine. There's no label but it looks remarkably like vintage Ossie Clark, THIS one is currently retailing at $1,445.
It remained unworn for the best part of two months until I unpacked this lurex maxi dress Curtise sent me for my birthday and ta-dah, finally out of the wardrobe and back in the spotlight.
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| Nails: Barry M's Silvery Lilac |
Talking of which, here's me in today's paper, promoting the Xmas Retro Fair at Walsall Leather Museum.
Back in the early 1970s a friend's parents, who own a saddlery, designed a range of leather and suede fashion which, just like Tupperware, they sold at parties to local housewives. They've kindly allowed us to borrow some of the prototypes, which have been lovingly packed away for over 40 years, and they'll be on display at the fair this Saturday. Just as well the collection will be under lock and key, I've taken a fancy to most of it.
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| Vintage Moss Crepe jacket (Second To None), 1970s Richard Shops lurex maxi dress (darling Curtise), silver velvet boots (£9, Office sale), sequin beret (jumble sale), Lamani tribal choker (India), antique silver-framed bag (car boot sale) |
It's a weekend of back to back fairs (Moseley on Sunday) and then that's it until 2015. Once work is out of the way I can bore you share our India plans.
See you soon!
As always you look gorgeous ! The jacket is divine ...
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You look absolutely fabulous! That jacket is gorgeous! I have two blouses like your skirt, one silver and one rainbow xxx
ReplyDeleteYou are rocking the monochrome look Vix, not sure I've seen you in a beret before? The jacket is ace but did it stink of fags, I'm sure it was a damn sight cheaper than $1,445? Your appearance in the paper will no doubt increase your fame in Walsall, has anyone asked for a selfie with you yet?
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That is a fantastic combination! Love the Ossie Clarke dress and the jacket is very chic. Mix it up, Vix!
ReplyDeleteI think this is the first time I can say your outfit is 'cute', maybe it's the hat?! That jacket is a super fit on you, and looks fab with the maxi. I can't believe those boots were only £9, what a steal.
ReplyDeleteYou are turning into quite the local celebrity!
x
Fabulous jacket! I like it better than the crazy-priced one, and it's made for your new lurex skirt. You're shining like the star you are. xox.
ReplyDeleteWonderful as always , love the jacket and boots ! have a good weekend Vix xxx
ReplyDeleteThat is so like the Ossie number it's bound to be one! I would love to wear that. I love the back detail, and the finish looks really lovely. Awesome outfit and I love that bag too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! :)
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ReplyDeleteBeautifully cut jacket ... looks perfect on you. M x
ReplyDeleteOh, la, la! Monochrome in color, but multiples in prints and textures! The velour boots, the rich tapestry bag, the sleek Deco jacket, and a sparkling Parisienne beret: la toute ensemble est magnifique! (Say 'croupier' to me and I'm off...) There's no doubt you'll wear it with stunning panache at 95, dear Vix, even if you don't smoke like an Alqonquin fishing camp.
ReplyDeleteOh MY! That blazer is stunning! I cannot believe you let it languish in your closet that long. Love the bag and the mixture of all the textures. You are a pro and a local celebrity!
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Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
That is a super jacket with a fab backstory and it looks lovely on - what more can one ask!
ReplyDeleteI think this is my new favorite of your outfits, ( til the next one lol), its gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOh oh oh! Love this outfit - black and white, and berets and gorgeous fitted jacket. Squeeee!
ReplyDeleteI so live on the wrong side of the pond!
Have fun (and btw, those boomboxes Jon make that you posted on FB have the husband drooling!)!!!
Gah! Your outfit= <3 Lurex and stripes and velvet, OH MY!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove that news clipping of you. Lurex + leather is a brilliant combo to me! :) x
ReplyDeleteI'm convinced that jacket must be an Ossie Clark - isn't it glorious? So chic, I do love that whole 70s-does-Deco thing. And all it needed was a bit of vintage Richard Shops lurex to set it off! I'm a bit the same, I snap things up with no particular plan, and then wonder what the bloody hell I'm going to do with it... But with a bit of patience, outfits sort themselves out, don't they? I'm loving all the black, white and silver, the luxuriu8s textures and the sparkle, you look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteFab Fenella photo in the paper, and ooh, those leather pieces are fantastic! Hope it all goes well at the weekend - if anyone deserves a month off, it's you, darling!
Love you! xxxx
You look gorgeous !
ReplyDeleteTwiggy xx
That jacket looks beautiful on you! Can't wait to hear of your travel plans.
ReplyDeleteDouble fabulous- because you look so like YOUUUUU! Love the jacket and the fact that you shop and dress intuitively because you always look, as the scientists put it, AMAZEBALLS. Love seeing you in print. Wish you, Desiree, Helga and Sarah would be real life cover girls more often! xo.
ReplyDeleteYou look sooo gorgeous in that top pic Vix. I think I'd have something to smile about if I'd snapped up a 1.5k jacket for far less! You must be tempted to sell.
ReplyDeleteGood luck for the last fair of the year. xxx
Do you ever donate any of your lovely clothes to one of your local museums Vix? Just wondered because I had a 1940s cardi and a 1920s beaded dress which I added to our town's museum collection and they were really grateful. I've often seen the dress used in temporary displays!
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The whole outfit screams designer. How perfect that Curtise sent you the exact inspiration piece needed to bring the whole thing together. Great newspaper photo too - you'll have them coming out in droves for the fair.
ReplyDeleteThat jacket is simply amazing - it certainly matches the Ossie Clark almost exactly, surely it must be. It certainly looks as if it's of the same quality too. I love how you've paired it, you look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThat jacket is fecking DIVOON! Bloody love it, and you're rocking it like a dream. Naturally, that provenance would appeal to us freaks! My Mama had a friend, Loris, who was like that, and had a whole crew of friends like that, whom I idolised as a child.
ReplyDeleteOoo, look at you in the paper! How very splendid! You're just going from strength to strength, my lovely!
Love Helga XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
that jacket is a dream!!!!
ReplyDeleteand pared with the cool lurex dress, glitter beret and the beautiful bag and worn from a beauty like you - just AWESOME!
love the story of the original owner :-)
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LOVE the outfit! the jacket IS very similar to the Ossie Clark, my goodness what a price tag! gorgeous dress too, Hurrah Curtise! lurex is a wonderful fabric and I'm in love with the bag and your gorgeous (as always) jewellry - good luck with the fair, those display dresses are divine, I'd love to see you in them though, blooming locks and keys hehe x x x India is upon us, I'm excited for you, Dave was nearly going to Hyderabad in Feb with work, he might still be going tho' - hope so, he'll have a wonderful time x x x
ReplyDeletewouuu, lovely jacket and lovely outfit, sometimes I think that pieces were waiting each other to create a perfect ensemble!, your lurex maxi looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd so fabulous to see you on the newspapers, looking gorgeous and cool!, those display dresses, with some history to tell, are awesome!
besos
Great jacket and I love the velvet boots!!
ReplyDeleteLove the jacket, it is right up my alley! And it looks so great with that dress! :)
ReplyDeleteI love your outfit, it looks great on you! You in that ad! It totally looks retro, but its really you in the here and now! can't wait to hear about your India plans.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a great outfit! That jacket, and the story that goes with it, are so good. And your new skirt goes very well with it.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting display you'll have at your faire. I love that you're in the newspaper.
I love the history that goes with the jacket! it all looks great together but it's those totally impractical, luxurious silver velvet boots I love - they deserve a post all of their own!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning jacket Vix, looks amazing and as if it was made just for you.
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Being dying to see these pictures , for some reason i could not see anything on my favorite blogs for two days , they were worth the wait you look fabulous as usual, love the velvet boots too xxx
ReplyDeleteBest jacket ever!!
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You look fabulous as ever jacket is gorgeous. The fair at the museum sounds and looks amazing and with you behind it I am sure its going to be an amazing day. Enjoy it, dee xx
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you manage to talk to us plebs anymore, with your fab £1000 jacket, and your mug in the paper!
ReplyDeleteThe lurex is stunning...trust Curtise to pick em.
But after all that I have to just stop with my hand over my heart (palpitations you know), to gasp at the wonder of velour boots! Theyre all soft and I want to pat them!!
The beret and the bag are equally smashing. Totally up there with your colourful stuff (can I call your superlative wardrobe that?) Of course the jacket is the star of stars...no wait a minute...YOU are the mega star :-) Pat, pat. Have I freaked you out yet?! xo JJ
You look amazing, I love this outfit.
ReplyDeleteThose are rather racy outfits to sell at a tuperware style party!
That jacket is one of a kind and i genuine treasure, it's fun to find such beauties!
ReplyDeleteYou are right the lurex dress is perfect with the jacket -
You are the perfect ambassador for that fair, they could not ask for a better person
Arianexo
I love your jacket! It fits you perfectly and looks stunning with the dress.
ReplyDeleteThe leather show looks so cool. I can't imagine having leather clothes parties in my house! Fun!
Happy belated b-day. You look perfect in the newspaper clipping :D And love the outfit. Every time I read your posts I get tempted to go back to the reselling life, especially for clothes.
ReplyDeleteOooo, that jacket has exactly the same shape as the one on 1stDibs - I bet it's an Ossie too!! I shop in a similar fashion in that I'm rarely ever looking for a specific thing, which means I'm open to whatever strikes my fancy. Like you, I have a few things that will hang unworn for a while until the right thing to wear them with shows up.
ReplyDeletenow I need a sequined beret. You look stellar in print, madam!
ReplyDeleteYou look stunning - I love the black and white together.
ReplyDeleteLizzie's Daily Blog
Fantastic jacket! Back looks no less stunning then front. Perfect match with the lurex maxi.
ReplyDeleteMonochrome but the different textures are just so gorgeous together. That jacket couldn't fit you any better - love it all!
ReplyDeleteYou look amazing, and that jacket and bag... gorgeous! xx
ReplyDeleteI just love this outfit! The jacket is stunning and goes so well with the dress x
ReplyDeleteI am utterly in love with this whole look, the truly fabulous blazer and the story of its owner! Thank you for sharing! You look stunning, artistic and FUN, and your purse is another little gem here. I am so glad to read how you create your outfits. I was thinking just recently about this. One of the ladies in the Advanced Style movie said, it can take her many years to complete the outfit - one outfit took her 8 years to create, but until she found the last stroke in her "painting", she just couldn't wear it. I totally get it. You are a true artist, Vix! With love xxxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfectly beautiful outfit for winter, you've lifted the monochrome with all the pattern and sparkle. That dress reminds me of frost on pavements when the sun hits it, really a thing of wonder. I don't think there's any doubt about the jacket, apart from the striped panels it's identical in every way. Isn't June a treasure? She understands the fascination with knowing the previous lives of a garment. Yes, I recognise the magpie approach well. Didn't you do well for your birthday, Curtise should be a personal shopper and stylist! Xxxxxxx
ReplyDeletecongrats on the feature ...
ReplyDeleteeeeek, this 70s does 30s jacket is wonderful! i would wear it right away!
Ohhhhh, this jacket! Fits you to perfection and is a total stunner. Love it with the sequin beret!
ReplyDeleteNow that's a beauty of an ensemble there. Not to often we see you in black and white, or silver, sans color. But whatever you put together looks fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThat lurex dress is AMAZING! I LOVE it!! Also that blazer is just so beautiful. I think we have the same view of shopping - some things are simply too fabulous to not have, even if it takes a while to find something else fabulous to wear them with ;)
ReplyDeleteomg those boots! and how fab would it be if that jacket was Ossie? We can only hope!
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