Monday 20 April 2015

Stop Me If You've Seen This One Before




 Its just as well I've usually got plenty to say for myself because if you visited my blog just to see new outfits I'd have passed my sell-by date years ago.


Take this gingham California maxi I'm wearing today. It's been a regular fixture on my blog since I bought it from a car boot sale for 50p back in June, 2010.  After spending hours painstakingly taking it in by hand, I took it to Glastonbury (HERE). I wore it to set up camp in the early hours of the morning before cracking open a cider and watching the sun rise.


Here it is in May, 2011.

Photo by Judy's
The David Butler for Pressler maxi I wore to trade at Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair on Saturday caused a stir. I got photographed and complimented by strangers, interviewed live on camera and Judy's took the above photo & shared it with their 73,500 Facebook followers, along with the caption "Now this is how to set up a stall! Here in Bristol "  


It fitted in rather nicely with the fab frocks worn by Dee and her equally gorgeous friends Kaz & Sioux. They paid us a flying visit on their girls' day out in Bristol. 


It isn't the first time (or the first fair) I've worn the dress. Here it is at Discover Vintage at Manchester's Victoria Baths back in November, 2014.

Velour maxi (Sarah Misfit, 2010), Suede waistcoat (Xmas present, 2013), Topshop platforms (£3.95, charity shop)

  Yesterday I wore a 1970s psychedelic velour maxi and suede waistcoat to unload our stock from the van and to pose with my gorgeous new (old) maxi from Whistlestop Vintage. Can't wait to give it a whirl! 

Beaded panda bag (charity shop), Velvet boots (£9, Office Sale, 2012)

Here's almost the same outfit worn in January, 2013 and I'm wearing it a couple of years earlier HERE


 Immortalised a month later by Val!

Vintage mini dress (From Desiree, 2011), 1970s hat (charity shop, 2013)
The mini dress I wore on Friday was accompanied by a mohair waistcoat (part of a suit and sent as a get well present from my dear friends Lynn & Philip). I wore it HERE in 2011.


In 2012 it can be seen peeking beneath my 1960s Wetherall wool cape (one of my favourite ever charity shop finds back in 2008).


The joy of a wardrobe of vintage clothes is that they haven't been in fashion for decades so you'll never look like last year's model when you wear them, no matter how often that is.

Right, I'm off have a mega clear-out in readiness for selling at the car boot sale later this week, wish me luck!

See you soon.

Linking to Patti & The Gang for Visible Monday

56 comments:

  1. Girrrrrl that velour maxi from Misfit is KILLING me!!! The pic by Val, too!!! Uggghh so good.

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  2. Although I understand that you have a circulation in your closet, it would be strange if you would not use your clothes many times.

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  3. I absolutely adore that pink dress, it's gorgeous!
    I keep meaning to ask, I'm wanting to sell a few bits of clothing, but I have no idea how much to ask for them, would you be able to help me out if I take some photos, please? xxx

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  4. If you love it - use it !
    Xxx

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  5. So much Vix gorgeousness on one page! My browser can't cope x

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  6. The Pressler maxi has a touch of Rapunzel about it, it seems to me anyway although I am squinting at my phone. Love both the gingham and the flower power frocks and you rock a headband!

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  7. Maxi dresses suit you nicely. Adore the piece by Vali;-)

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  8. Wow! So many great outfits!

    That velour maxi is AMAZING!!! Gah.

    I can't wait to see that new/old flowy chiffon number in pink. You're going to be a dream walking in that.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  9. Ha, great minds think alike, darling - I've just taken photos of myself wearing things I've worn loads of times before on the blog (and off it!) but I wasn't intending to apologise for repeating myself. More to celebrate a well-loved, well-loved wardrobe - and here you are, doing exactly that!
    That's the reality of most people's wardrobes, surely - pieces you love and want to wear again and again. Looking at all your fabulous frocks, each and every one a beautiful favourite, is a real pleasure. They suit you so well, they are your trademark colourful vintage style, and I couldn't imagine you wearing anything else. Certainly not seasonal trends made in sweatshops to feed the Fast fashion monster, that's for sure!
    Love the California gingham, and that David Butler is dreamy (like the label).
    As always, you and Jon are the perfect ad for vintage, and your stall looks amazing. Judy's are lucky to have you - and so are we!
    Love you! xxxxxxx

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  10. Well-loved, well-worn, I meant... See, I do repeat myself! Oh, and it's great to see Dee and her pals too. xxx

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  11. wear something once, only for the photos? No, that's just silly. It's not a magazine.

    good luck at the car boot sale.

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  12. Love that Val immortalized that outfit in that picture - love the velvet boots by the way.

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  13. Beautiful clothes ,photos and stained glass

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  14. Love the gingham dress , love the dress with the waistcoat really pretty xxx

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  15. So much fabulous-ness here. And yes, I follow you for your writing as well as these splendid outfits. It's the person, not the clothes! Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xox.

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  16. ok - tons of luck are on the way to your island :-)
    and as you know - i´m in the same boat like you: just wear clothes that are or look soooo much out of fashion and you never must fear over "the trend" or "must have" of the day! and of cause "vintage" i much better made then todays stuff you can wear it for years and years.....
    love that painting of you!
    xxxxxxxx

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  17. The petticoat, skirt and dress hanging on the clothesline all look beautiful. If they were hanging on my own clothes line I'd want to run outside in my undies and slip them right on. You look fabulous in that gorgeous gingham California maxi-dress with its classic vintage puffy sleeves and ruffled hem. I love that David Butler for Preeler maxi in the 4th 5th and 6th photos - you look like a princess in it. The bright psychedelic floral print on the velour maxi is pretty. I also love that vintage yellow and white print mini-dress and the complementary purple tights you styled with it. Best of luck at the car boot sale! .

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

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  18. I always wonder how you decide which splendid pieces you'll keep for yourself and which you'll part with at the sales. Must be a difficult choice sometimes. All of these 'keepers' are quite excellent.

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  19. Can't beat a bit of gingham in the warm weather. Mind you, I am so enjoying that mohair check...mmmm, I clicked what it made me think of...sherbert! And the velour maxi, possibly my favouritest item in your wardrobe.
    Zxx

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  20. What! You wear things for more than one season - good grief. Love the black gingham dress.

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  21. You are such a beauty, Your Majesty. :) You created a wonderful, unique collection over the years - and you blog for years as well, and I am happy to see these fantastic dresses in all sorts of combinations, because you are a great stylist! But the truth to be told, it is never about style with you - it is your colorful, warm, genuine, bold personality that attracts me to read your blog - and hopefully, to meet one day! Much love xxxxx

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  22. You look really sweet and demure in the gingham maxi(love gingham, love pre=loved vintage gems in general, love your blogging style:)

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  23. That gingham dress is gorgeous. I like seeing your outfits and am only surprised they do get worn more than once as I bet many punters ask if they can buy the clothes off your back as you whave such fab stuff!

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  24. Everything you wear is so you. There's no artifice here, which, as many commenters have already said, is what keeps us coming back for more, more, more. Plus, you may wear something over and over, thank goodness, but you present it in a whole new way every time. You should always be on camera. That would be a show I watch - if I could get it on YouTube too.

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  25. Your clothes are art in themselves. You're not donning the same pair of skinny jeans (neutral colour) in profusion, your clothes deserve to be exhibited! I really love that gingham dress, you always look pretty in it and we haven't seen it in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGES! (I have a very visual memory for outfits people have worn but I bet the majority of people wont remember things!)x

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  26. By the way Anne Boleyn meets Guinivere in that floaty angel sleeved maxi!x

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  27. And you look wonderfully fabulous in all of them. I especially love the gingham maxi. Makes my heart skip a beat!

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  28. Your gingham dress is a real star, I love it. I still can't get over the other dress being pink!!

    Good luck with the clearout. x

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  29. I love spotting items of yours that I recognise from previous posts - and my wardrobe is similar, the same things cropping up again and again on the blog. In fact, today's post features a suede top first posted in 2010, formerly owned by my grandma in the 70s. Hope I'm still wearing it when I'M in my 70s!

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  30. Oldies but goodies as we say. For the clothes and ourselves!
    I love your walk through your favourites.
    You really are a picture postcard in every one.
    Would so love to click my heels and visit your stall.
    Can't wait to see the new dress whirl!
    You look amazing in maxis AND minis. And those velvet boots and mohair vest are stunning...maybe I like texture :-) xo Jazzy Jack

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  31. Oh, I love all your dresses, no matter how many times you wear them! I am so jealous of that gingham dress though, I think you know how much I love gingham! :)

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  32. I love that gingham maxi dress. It is so pretty. I feel well loved clothes always seem to shine brighter than new clothes.

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  33. Vintage can be worn again and again and again. Never boring. Always fun!

    Great post Vix! I follow you for so many reasons, one of which is you stunning sense of style. It's your writing and your stunning personality that has me totally hooked.

    By the way, you look great in your 1960's swimsuit. Brava!

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  34. Utterly gorgeous, I absolutely love the gingham dress. xx

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  35. What a wonderful gingham dress!

    Alena & http://garmentsspeech.blogspot.com

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  36. Yes, I rembember this gignham dress and I aleays love to see iton you. the hard work taking it was totally worth it, because it fits you like a glove.
    I see why the David Butler's dress caused a stir! What a breath taking piece. Wow!

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  37. Fantastic your clothes, everyone! I love the exotic and psychedelic style that about you are perfect, I really like the bag with the Panda and all that green, nature around you, nice!
    An original and timeless style.

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  38. It would be horrid to wear something only once, maybe that is why I never had a wedding dress!! Love the gingham frock and looking forward to seeing you in that layered flowing gown.

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  39. But we enjoy watching you ring the changes, Vix! It's as much fun as watching an artist set out a palette of colors and begin creating images from her imagination. What's especially fascinating about your blog is your range of working and living venues -- what you choose to wear for the occasion, be it a 60s James Bond swimsuit in the garden or a gingham frock to set up camp.

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  40. Hey you! Had to pop in a say hello - that cape is marvelous! So busy I don't even know what day it is!

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  41. I absolutely love the print on that velour maxi! the sleeves on your pink dress are stunning, makes me think of Anne Boleyn, and all your other dresses are beautiful (yellow with purple, amazing!)! Yes, we've seen them before, but where's the fun in wearing something just once?

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  42. Such beautiful dresses deserve to be worn repeatedly and to be shown here on your blog again and again. I remember some of these outfits but what a pleasure to see these beauties again!

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  43. I love your clothing, I think it's refreshing that we get treated to 'repeat' views!

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  44. no wonder people were gushing about that dress..it is fabulous. those beautiful bell sleeves!

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  45. Woah, that pink 'hanky' maxi is *so* Margo. It's fab. That David Butler maxi is a real stunner too. When the fabrics are so great, more is definitely more!

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  46. They're all fabulous ... no wonder they're old favourites :0)
    xx

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  47. Lovely post I love them all and being vintage no matter how many times you wear them no one else will be seen wearing the same :-) Great to see you on Saturday thanks for the mention lovely. Happy sorting out, dee xxx

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  48. You look beautiful in all those photos especially in that gingham dress! Lush x

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  49. Clothes are meant to be worn more than once so Id love that wonderful gingham maxi. I can't remember it, but love it with the belt! x

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  50. I love all your clothes Vix! Especially that yellow mini dress at the end. Very much my cup of tea! And i wouldnt blame all those people clambouring to get a piccy of your pink GOWN. anyone can dress like their going to a ball any time!

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  51. The shape on the gingham maxi is adorable - the big puffed sleeves, the fitted bodice - why wouldn't you wear it over and over when it looks so good on you? I'm having heart palpitations over the velour maxi from Sarah!!! The pattern is just too fab for words.

    We all have favourite pieces we wear over and over, and if I really love something I keep it til it doesn't fit or it falls apart. At least with our vintage stuff the quality is so much better than the junk in the stores now that we know it will last for while.

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  52. So many wonderful outfits! The yellow mini dress is particularly gorgeous, I love that you paired it with purple tights. xx

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  53. First thing: you're a unique beauty no matter what you're wearing, and we're always glad to see what you choose to show us.
    (In-Fashion alert: you're in high current fashion with the gingham. This is really your year to be in high current style no matter what you choose from your brilliant collection. But then you know that!)
    Second thing: who are these people who don't wear their clothes more than once?!? I'd be really unhappy if I felt I couldn't wear my faves more than one time. When I'm feeling particularly rotten, few remedies help like a sure-fire favorite get up that you feel great in every single time.
    And then; who are these women who don't remix on their blog? That's often what I tune it to see. Applying old-school creativity to one's wardrobe is what makes any fun at all for me.
    So ... pop back up to the first sentence and know that's one of the many things I value about your blog, Vix!

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  54. Oh utterly divoon frockage. I love each & every one. Never ever get tired of seeing them again. How lovely to see Dee again. I'd love to meet you both in the flesh. Xx

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  55. I freaking ADORE this frock its beautiful! I'm sure that none of my clothes are in "fashion" either - all made by me, second hand or indie labels that are hardly "on trend" (these ones are usually covered in zombies or skulls). The best thing about being unfashionable is that you are always "in fashion" to yourself. I always think in my own mind that although I LOVE clothes, I really have zero time for fashion (plus anytime I visit a fashion "forward" chain store I'm horrified - the ugly poorly made clothes, the horrible cuts, the nasty fabric, who wears this crap!)

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  56. Oh yes, I remember this lovely gingham frock, you always look fabulous in it, so this is like bumping into an old friend. Very welcome. Actually it's amazing how you manage to always look fresh and different considering the size of your wardrobes. I reckon they must be tardis-like, because months go by before you recycle an outfit. You look like a medieval damsel in that photo in the municipal baths, love it. I will never, ever get tired of seeing that suede waistcoat from one of the Lizzes (sic) the shape and fit is just perfect. Xxxxx

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Lots of love, Vix