I never imagined I'd ever own a Tarantella, made by the high-end Walsall leather manufacturer, founded by a local woman and employing a mostly all-female workforce. I've lusted over their pieces in the town's Leather Museum and, despite dealing in vintage clothing since the 1970s, even June from Second To None has yet to come across a piece.
Luckily for me our mates, Gordon & Tina of Babouskha, recently found this unworn suede suit on their travels and, after using it on display at the Xmas Retro Fair on Saturday, I made it mine.
Other than the post I wrote HERE, there's very little information available about the Tarantella factory. After their groovy leather and suede fashion they changed direction and specialised in glove manufacture. If you own a pair of vintage St Michael or Halfords leather gloves then there's a good chance they came from Walsall.
 |
| Tarantella skirt suit worn with Jersey Masters nylon dagger collar blouse (clearance rail at a vintage fair), 1960s snakeskin and stainless steel choker (car boot sale), River Island stack heel boots (Salvation Army) and orange tights from Poundland. |
My green suit is labelled as a UK size 14 to fit a 34" bust and a 26" waist. I bought a modern Miss Selfridge maxi dress from a chazza yesterday which is a UK size 6 and fits perfectly, talk about vanity sizing. Just goes to show that you should never pay any attention to sizing labels in vintage or contemporary clothes, they're all crazy.
Those vintage Trueform boots last worn HERE would have looked good with this outfit but I sold them on Sunday!
Those vintage Trueform boots last worn HERE would have looked good with this outfit but I sold them on Sunday!
Working at the Leather Museum on Saturday obviously had an influence on me. Here's my other purchase, a fab 1960s Suede & Leathercraft suede mini. Alone it's going to be great for festivals with one of my vintage chokers and some beaten up tan boots.
Bit nippy for bare legs today though, so I stuck a vintage ribbed polo neck (the only jumper I own) underneath along with two pairs of 1970s yellow tights Lyndsey found for me at a car boot sale.
 |
| Vintage suede mini worn with yellow polo neck, Bertie leather boots (both car booted) and a suede shoulder bag from Queen Helga) |
Right, better get my arse in gear. There's a mountain of clobber from a mega two days of charity shopping to wash and put away and my roots desperately need touching up before it gets too dark to see the grey bits.
See you soon!
Suits you like a glove ( from Walsall ) !
ReplyDeleteXxx
You look fantastic , I have a phobia for the feel of suede but i love the look of it , what a fantastic find xxx
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how well that green suit fits you. You were born to wear it.x
ReplyDeletegosh these are both beautiful, I had an outfit quite like the first suede one, my Grand 9 year, its was brown, soft as butter, not nearly as prestigious as yours I'm sure but they made things so lovely back then, ahhh, the 70's, good times, great clothes, you ind the best stuff, honestly,
ReplyDeleteperfect!
ReplyDeleteyou lucky gal! this suede dreams were made for you! i still wonder where the fire engine red suede mini is gone that i wore as a teenager..... although it would only fit around my neck now ;-)
xxxxxx
You look AMAZING in both these outfits!
ReplyDeleteCarina took the words right out of my mouth! Rock on!
ReplyDeleteToo funny - I was JUST listening to that song the other day - watching an old VCR tape that had an episode of MTV's '120 Minutes'!
bought outfits are beautiful. Don't wear suede in the rain,k? (love that label)
ReplyDeleteHaha, only you would have a single jumper and it would be lemon yellow one!
ReplyDeleteIt looks terrific under your wonderful leather dress.
You wear so many great things that it is hard to say, but I think the two outfits featured here are my favourites. They look so good on you.
Looking as cool as ever Vix - love this look! - Tasha xxx
ReplyDeleteHi my dear! Wow what gorgeous pieces to find the 2 piece is a stylish classic and the dress is soo fabulous, well done! Sorry I missed on wishing you a happy birthday, I'm so pleased you had a wonderful time and I hope you have a fab festive season! xx
ReplyDeleteI have always loved suede. I used to have a fabulous pair of brown suede boots I wore until they were unrepairable. Love both suede outfits!
ReplyDeleteBrings a whole new meaning to Leather Queen! Oh you do look sooooo good in the both suede outfits; I love the green outfit for the colour and the fit (perfect with the orange shirt and tights) and the tan mini is just funky and cool, and I love the neckline. Vix Does Knitwear - I didn't even know that was possible!
ReplyDeleteThere is something wonderful about finding clothing made by a well-regarded local company. You're wearing part of walsall's industrial - and sartorial - history, and that's special. And of course the fact that it fits and suits you to perfection is an added bonus!
Why on earth does anyone get het up about sizes. Wear what fits - nothing else matters!
Love you! xxx
PS. Just played Suedehead for the kids - I can't believe I haven't introduced them to Morrissey before, but better late than never! xxx
ReplyDeleteReally lovely outfits Vix. I used to have a lot of suede and sometimes washed it in the washing machine which turns it into cardboard and has to be softened up again. I wouldn't recommend it.
ReplyDeleteI shall keep my eyes peeled for Tarantella.
You look adorable in that yellow jumper. I can't believe you only have one! This isn't California you know! xxx
Green suede is up there with purple suede in my book and you look fabulous in this - and those orange tights are amazing with it!x
ReplyDeleteThey are both just perfect! Now you just need some suede boots to go with and a patchwork bag! :)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, that is a CRACKING outfit! You look seriously gorgeous! I wish some of the teenage clones around our area could see what style looks like! What a find in getting that suit.
ReplyDeleteI really do like suede- I've probably told you this loads of times before but growing up, my sister and I had this amazing 1970's (or 1960's not sure which) waistcoat and skirt a bit like that but with fringing, in the colour of your second dress! We loved wearing it for dressing up and costume and HOW I wish we still had it when I would love to wear it!x
You are gorgeous is both suede outfits! (I love the tags). And your hair is fabulous too. Rock on, xox.
ReplyDeleteGet in! That bloody rocks and how fab to have a piece of wearable Walsall history. It is a beauty and looks great on you.
ReplyDeleteLove the suede mini with yellow. Looks yummy.
Loves ya.
xxxxx
Oh my these both look stunning on you! Lucky duck!
ReplyDeleteBisous
Suzanne
That's quite a treasure you got yourself, the pieces are superb so are you - Wow! one of the best look i have seen you in- Suede was invented for you!
ReplyDeleteArianexo
How perfect for you! Loved all the looks, but green and orange is especially wonderful! xxxx
ReplyDeleteSeeing how chic those vintage suedes are when worn (leathers seem drab on the rack, don't you think), I couldn't imagine why their popularity declined. Until I read the caution about getting caught in the rain: are British suedes incompatible with British weather? Never mind, defy the odds and weather gods!
ReplyDeleteThose purple suede boots were elegant with the suedue mini! Is mixing suede colors not done?
I've been told that only I and Putin wear polo neck jumpers...hah!
ReplyDeleteIf style queen and Black Country glamour puss Vix is wearing one, it must be OK. (...must admit I never thought I'd see the day!) How fab to own wonderful Walsall suede, if ever anyone could showcase it, it would be you. The green outfit looks cosmic with the orange blouse and tights...it could have been made for you. xxxxxxx
Such beautiful outfits Vix, the suede really suits you! x
ReplyDeleteThe suede looks so good on you, so flattering. Now come style me and my hair :D Yours always looks perfect.
ReplyDeleteI love that dress.
ReplyDeleteLizzie's Daily Blog
"Just goes to show that you should never pay any attention to sizing labels in vintage or contemporary clothes, they're all crazy" A-MEN! You look wonderful in suede and I LOVE how you style all the pieces. XXX
ReplyDeletei knew this was going to look fantastic on you! so good vix. just goes to prove that with patience anything can happen. x
ReplyDeleteYou know I love a good piece of leather or suede, and that suit is just stellar. I used to have a rust-coloured suede skirt in that style with the snaps up the front when I was in my 20s. The mini is adorable, definitely something I'd grab too. The only problem with leather dresses is the cleaning!
ReplyDeleteThat is some truly groovy suede. Makes me miss the long suede vest I had back in the 70's...don't miss the Earth shoes I often wore with it though.
ReplyDeleteFierce!! I love both of these outfits. And I really love your hair with the pouf. I can hear the music in the background.
ReplyDeleteAll good things come to those who wait, it looks fab on you, though the very idea of touching suede makes me feel a bit odd! xxx
ReplyDeleteThat suede skirt suit is to die for! You look absolutely wonderul! I think it's one of my favs outfits for colour, shape and style. The dress is fantastic too! Very, very lucky you! xx
ReplyDeleteHonestly, both the suit and dress look amazing on you, you look absolutely amazing! xx
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your cheeky Barbarella number, I can totally see you rocking that at the festivals next year, but the surprise is the green suit. When you posted a picture the other day on fb, it looked potentially a bit frumpy. Not once you're wearing it though! You look absolutely amazing. I love the way you've styled it, the terra cotta and sage green just sing together. That is one top outfit, and it's from Walsall too, couldn't be more perfect. I love that you've sold those boots already, that means that your wardrobe is always fresh, no chance of getting bored ever. Just a thought, could you spray them with suede protector? The whole sizing thing is just so emotive and tells us so much about ourselves, both as individuals and a population. I'm often shocked by how tiny a vintage size can be. Xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI love both these outfits ... they look fantastic on you.
ReplyDeletexx
I agree with Tania when I saw the green suit on Facebook I wasn't convinced but it looks absolutely fabulous on you!
ReplyDeleteYup - you look amazing in both outfits, although I'm still partial to the leather and suede combo, especially teamed with the yellow polo neck xxx
ReplyDeleteI think what I love most is the detail that you only own one jumper - and here it is, in glorious lemon yellow.
ReplyDeleteThe Tarantella skirt suit is a divine thing - that required a divine thing to show it off to perfection - and oh look, it got just what it needed... divinity.
The Tarantella outfit is stunning. the label made me laugh a little 'it is inadvisable to expose this garment to rain' - bit of a problem in England that!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh you are looking rather Barbarella like in these outfits. Smoking hot!!! I love these on you. Xx
ReplyDeleteThe green suit is great paired with orange. It really pops! I also like the mini layered over the yellow - super cute!
ReplyDeleteWow - I love BOTH these suede outfits. The green suit is amazing, it must be wonderful to own a piece of local history! But I LOVE the mini as well, especially paired with yellow :D
ReplyDeletei love both outfits, especially how you styled them! I was really wishing for a suede tan mini but i decided to make one from corduroy. Love the green and orange!
ReplyDeleteI used to work at tarantella Shaw st walsall , I made suede skirts , motor cycle jackets and trousers, Gordon banks goalkeepers gloves and industrial gloves, and I was the only one in the factory who made the sheepskin mitts to order, then take them into our shop at the front.
ReplyDelete