I'm looking remarkably happy here considering I was getting madder by the minute earlier. We decided to explore posh neighbouring town, Royal Sutton Coldfield, this morning. In several of the chazzas the volunteers looked at us in abject horror and followed us around the shop floor like we were attempting some kind of heist.
If that wasn't bad enough, the stock in most of the places was either appalling, ridiculously overpriced or a combination of both. Whilst an old dragon breathed down my neck watching to see that I wasn't about to have it away with her precious stock, a hideous dog print fleece caught my eye and I gasped in disbelief at the £12 price tag, the bloody things are only £5 new on Walsall market.
At one point I stormed out of a shop in exasperation, £95 for a 1970s Debenhams fake fur coat and £85 for an old army jacket. We'd be laughed out of the vintage fairs if we started charging prices like that. But it came good in the end, we found a few affordable vintage treasures and visited a couple of charity shops with friendly staff who don't consider customers criminals if they don't dress in Marks & Spencer's finest.
I haven't sorted out today's purchases yet so here's last week's additions to the Kinky Melon stockroom.
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| Clockwise from top left: 1960s Crimplene coat, mustard suede cap, Aquascutum midi, leather cartridge bag, mens' 1960s jeans, vinyl briefcase, Welsh tapestry gillet, old skool tracksuit top, Welsh tapestry gillet, handmade girdle, 1970s maxi skirt |
I haven't sorted out today's purchases yet so here's last week's additions to the Kinky Melon stockroom.
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| Clockwise from top left: Navy leather trench coat, curly lamb car coat, leather coat,curly lamb coat,mustard leather trench, fake fur trimmed wool coat, plum leather jacket, Welsh tapestry & suede trim coat, sheepskin jacket, mustard Western cut jacket |
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| Clockwise from top left: 1960s Crimplene mini, Shubette maxi, Berketex maxi, Tricoville midi, 1970s belted midi, California-made maxi, pussy bow day dress, psychedelic balloon sleeve maxi, Berketex maxi, 1960s shift dress, 1960s scooter dress |
These will be joining us this weekend when we trade with Judy's Affordable Vintage Fairs in Bath (details HERE) and London (details HERE).
Talking of vintage fairs (don't I always?) I've got to meet some of my favourite bloggers (and a lovely mum) in the past week. The stunning Rosalind popped in to say hello at Judy's in Oxford.
The fabulous Em and her Mum called in to see us at Cardiff. She bought the dragon dress from us when we traded in Bristol and brilliantly refashioned it to make it more her.
As did gorgeous Porcelina!
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| Vintage Indian temple, jungle & elephant print maxi (Courtesy of Curtise), 1970s velvet jacket (Leibchen Vintage), tribal pendant (car boot sale), fringed leather & suede shoulder bag (handmade by a friend) |
I'm linking to Patti and the gang for Visible Monday (a day late) then I'm off to wash my charity shop finds and catch up with the blogging world, we stayed over in Cardiff at the weekend and spent all day yesterday in Wetherspoons so I'm woefully behind.
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| Mine's a pint (or three) of Carling with added Barry M. Cheers! |
See you soon!
Cheers! Some charity shops do over price but the majority are great, I know my local shops are all good ones, the volunteers bend over backwards too saving things I might like etc
ReplyDeleteOooh, casting lustful glances over the cartridge bag and tweed gilet! I'm glad you finally found some goodies.
ReplyDeleteLots of great finds it seems. I hate overpriced thrifts - drives me crazy. Do they not realize how much more money they would make by pricing things correctly!
ReplyDeleteHaving tried the chazzas in Sutton Coldfield a few years back, I'm not in a hurry to return, and you've just confirmed why! There's always a couple of shops on the outskirts where a bargain can bed had though, thank goodness! Your beautiful medieval sleeve brown velvet jacket is just amazing!
ReplyDeleteI cant believe it , Our blog posts passed in blog land again , It must be something to do with the weather lol , Love the brown velvet jacket you are wearing , I only went to Sutton Coldfield charity shops once that was enough , You are right very expensive xxx
ReplyDeleteI used to love charity shopping but it got so expensive down here I have given up although I did find a couple of vintage goodies cheap today when I popped to town. How dare they make you feel like that to there really are so horrible people in this world. Great finds so good to see lovely Emma and her mum to :-) dee xxx
ReplyDeleteIt must be the bad side of vintage going popular , high prices and bad attitudes . So sad ...
ReplyDeletexxx
Made me smile on a grey dim day. MY now departed MIL always wore the fleeces with the puppies kittens and best of all wolves, bleeding dreadful but I just think she was laughing at the world , she really did have a wicked sense of humour .
ReplyDeleteUgh, I hate it when shop staff do that. And when charity shops charge such high prices -- and people always think it's meanness if you complain, like you're trying to deprive the charity of money. It's especially true in posh areas where they might not want to be reminded that lots of people on low incomes shop in charity shops because they want affordable quality clothing, not because it's a trendy thing to do.
ReplyDeleteAnd damn, another fair in London on a day I can't go. Don't they ever happen on Saturdays?
good to know that wolf fleeces are popular in other countries. Thought it was just American bad taste. Do these over priced places what to sell things? I really don't get it.
ReplyDeleteLove the jacket with the crazy long sleeves ( maybe they thought you were a wizard)
It was all worth it in the end then. You got the sweetest hat with a bow on it. Looks a bit Downton Abbey. But good luck selling the handmade girdle! You'd love the charity shop I work in. Our highest price is around a tenner I think. It gets very busy! xxx
ReplyDeleteM&S finest indeed, hahahhahha.
ReplyDeleteI found charity shops overpriced when I was in England last time.
Looking fabulous.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I can't believe how rudely you were treated! For some reason I often get followed around in Boots, I felt like saying to the security guard who was following me around the other day that my handbag cost more than the contents of my basket! I see you're in my neck of the woods on Sunday, I might pop down if I'm free x
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad when shops charge too much. I do however, love all of your coats. And, how nice that Rosalind stopped by. Great photo of you two. x
ReplyDeleteIt's really annoying when the charity shops overprice themselves. In Rochdale where I pop to on a Sunday sometimes I've had some real bargains but it's a quick in and out dodging the druggies n drunks on Yorkshire street.
ReplyDeleteYou've picked up some nice coats missus.
Will miss you on Sunday, hope you have a great time in Bath. Xxx
glad you get some nice clothes anyway, even if the staff was not collaborative!. Sometimes I've been watched by staff at a posh boutique, but never at a charity! it's really stupid!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm really admiring your beautiful friends style, and your fabulous maxis and even more fabulous sleeves!!! oh yes, those sleeves!!!
besos
That is rather odd for a charity store to have employed people like that.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful that you got to meet up with so many other great bloggers!
LOVE that velvet jacket you're wearing here!
bisous
Suzanne
prosit!
ReplyDeletecool stuff from your trip to dragon guarded chazzas! :-)
and i must say - with this fab outfit of elephant embellished maxi and velvet bolero with marvelous sleeves - they would roll out a red carpet for you in the 2.hand shops around here! they know their best costumers!
xxxxx
it's been happening here for the last 2 years. all my favorite charity shops now have special vintage sections that are outrageously overpriced. places where i used to be able to get a dress for $2-3 now charge $50. it's so disappointing. the digging has gotten quite hard here but i am still digging. :) you look so lovely as do all the women who came for a visit. x
ReplyDeletePerhaps they thought you were a modern day Bonnie and Clyde. You should have spent ages in them just to annoy the biddies. You picked up some great coats. xx
ReplyDeleteHow very surreal. Next time wear a tiara and elbow-length gloves, yes?
ReplyDeleteI don't mind chazzers being a bit spendy - but there are limits - and lord knows how that kind of thing affects their takings.
One of our local shops has a couple of new folks who were (darling - I'm oblivious) royally taking the piss out of my appearance this morning. I was only alerted by the rapid temperature drop and haughty stalk out of my other half. Poor lamb gets very offended on my behalf - I really couldn't give a stuff about other folks lack of social skills. We're used to being catnip for store detectives (or wannabe SDs) LMAO.
Loving your cheeky grin xx
Yup, I know exactly what you mean about over-priced chazzas. I was utterly astonished today to spy a coat in a local charity shop (my size, nice-ish but nothing wonderful) priced at £24.99!!!! I don't think so. And I do not live in an affluent area.
ReplyDeleteAlso, happened to have someone sitting next to me at the bus stop resplendent (not) in a wolf-print fleece. It made me think of you as I remember you mentioning your dislike of fleeces (especially wolf-print ones) a while ago.
My Mum was once accused of attempting to steal at a jumble sale. Seriously!! Mum was outraged by the accusation. Thinking about it that was in an upmarket area - unpleasant attitudes most go with the territory.
Your velvet jacket is gorgeous, and you wear it so well - as always. Hope you have a wonderful day in Bath.
I HATE THAT! Having someone breathe down your neck as you peruse their stock is the quickest way to get me out of a charity shop.
ReplyDeleteI certainly won't be heading to Sutton Coldfield's chazzas any time soon.
Love how today's post is essentially a mix of my favourite bloggers :) (Love the jacket too!)
You got some great stock Vix, even if you did have to suffer a vile sales assistant. Loving the brown hat with bow, (reminds me of my nan) the cartridge bag, baker boy cap and your colourful collection of frocks will help shift the winter blues....I'm feeling them already!
ReplyDeleteI do love a bird that drinks pints like me!
Btw, I'm after some advice and know you will have the answer, will email later.
xxxx
sounds very much like the charity shops in my town!
ReplyDeleteThat's terrible, the way you were treated! I'm glad your trip wasn't in vain though. I just adore that velvet jacket by the way. ;)
ReplyDeleteI hate and detest charity shops that charge excessively. I know what you mean about the dog fleece - I often see items from Primarni priced higher in charity shops than they were originally! What is that all about? I absolutely love the brown velvet jacket, especially the beautiful bell sleeves - very Biba! My first job in 1969 was based across the road from them in Kensington High Street - I was in there every lunch hour worshipping.....and trying on dark plum lipstick and beautiful jackets similar to yours.......
ReplyDeleteI started a blog yesterday as I've enjoyed yours and several others so much and thought I'd like to have a go. It will help keep my brain cells active - still struggling with posting photos etc. What am I saying, I'm still struggling taking the bloody photos; I'm going to have to ask the other half!
vronni60s.blogspot.com
Shocking isn't it? I always found Solihull to be like that too. Xx
ReplyDeleteIt was such a treat and a pleasure to finally get to meet you and Jon. And I'm thrilled with my jumpsuit. I see you are sporting another amazing set of sleeves here- you are definitely queen of sleeves.
ReplyDeleteShame about the stuck-uppitty staff at those charity shops; what an opportunity they missed out on to chat with you (not an opportunity the rest of us would pass up on easily).
Cheers pet!
ReplyDeleteFab as always to see you both on Sunday and I love my latest Kinkywear.
I love it when bloggers meet and how gorgeous are Rosalind and Porcelina?!
I know...sadly I'm used to ridiculous prices in chazzas here unless it's stuff I don't want like Primarni tops or fleeces. Our Oxfam has a pair of Fifties curtains still on sale for £145. No one will buy them and the shop doesn't seem to want to let them go. I miss a good old jumblie when I used to get clothes for all four of us, books,toys,tat for the house and still have change left for a fish supper and the tramride home!
Bloody loves ya!
xxxxxxx
Gah! Awful overpriced charity shops! I'm glad you came away with some treasures in the end. Loving your brown velvet jacket, and the plum leather you have amongst the other gorgeous finds.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of your week xx
I know what you mean. I have been in a few recently where they have been charging top whack for stuff I wouldn't put in the bin.always find that amusing. We must both have the same air of disrepute as I tend to get followed round everywhere. I mean what the hell is going on with that? I am in love with your beautiful outfit today. You look amazing! Autumn colours are very you. Xxxx
ReplyDeleteYes we got one of them posh town's with charity shops which are very over priced near us Mr M and myself cannot believe the prices ,great picture Vix, xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm outraged on your behalf, darling! And my view from a charity shop worker's perspective is that pricing has to be reasonable; yes, you want to maximise what you can get for donations on behalf of your charity, but you also have to ensure that you don't put customers off and send them elsewhere by overcharging. Fair and appropriate, those my guidelines. The thing about those monstrously overpriced items is that people will think the shop is a rip-off, which reflects poorly on the charity, they won't be return customers, and the shop will be stuck with stock that doesn't move. Who is benefiting from that scenario? And don't get me started on shoddy customer service - I think a lot of chazzas really need to improve in that area, and train their volunteers to a better standard.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you had plenty of vintage joy with the friendly staff in a couple of other shops - look at all that gorgeousness! I'm eyeing up the maxis, of course, will any fit me? I've always got a soft spot for Tricoville clothes too, nice quality.
And speaking of soft spots - good to see dearest Em and her mum, and Rosalind and Sarah look very glam. As do you!
Do you know, I'd forgotten all about that elephant and temple frock, but then I am being madly distracted by the beauty of those magnificent sleeves!
Good on ya - a day drinking pints in 'Spoons is never a day wasted!
Love you! xxxx
You would ooze grace and class wearing a bathrobe! Nonsense how people can be so condescending. I love Cardiff-the bay intrigyes me.
ReplyDeleteMy god those sleeves!! You look amazing as always. Charity shops are getting more and more ridiculous, they've really latched on the vintage surge and are trying to pass off crap from Bon Marche as vintage. I keep seeing moth eaten tat for £10+. I can't imagine who's buying it that's encouraging them to carry on. I'm certainly not in an affluent area either!
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous as per usual and those sleeves are poetic! I have a list of vintage shops in NYC that I shall not return to, for the same reasons you cite: I got the hairy eyeball, and they wanted $90 for a little 60's frock. Anyway, I am raising my glass to you now, for your shopping successes! xox
ReplyDeletePatti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Arrrghhhh!!
ReplyDeleteThat is kind of like when you go to a ritzy store and the clerks treat you like crap - for pete's sake, they're CLERKS! They don't own the place.
You look fabulous and hope that tonight you are having a great evening, watching some good TV and having a cocktail. xo
Well the only thing I can say about that nasty shop is that it could possibly drive shoppers to YOU. Friendly, stylish, knowledgeable, witty, great prices, fabulous stock, clean as a spring day and the beautiful Vix and her lovely assistant Jon to make their day.
ReplyDeleteI keep scrolling back for another look at the brown velvet jacket and those fantastic sleeves! The elephant and temple print is worth another look, now that it's been pointed out to me, but Those Sleeves are exactly what I want in a jacket for a special supper with women who patronize the shoppes whose staff would undoubtedly follow me about...
ReplyDeleteOne of our local thrifts has indeed installed a "better dresses" section. The staff told me they've done this to encourage women with career clothes to donate rather than consign: their mission is to assist homeless/unemployed women assemble a working wardrobe as they rebuild their lives. They get first pick -- and they get my castoffs.
yes chazzas in leafy surrey suburbia are a bit like that which is why I don't often get lucky, the staff can be quite intimidating and also don't sell their window displays - a bit daft considering they are supposed to be raising funds for charity. Halloween vintage black cat ornaments seen in my local were accompanied by a sign saying 'not for sale'. I like your outfit today. Betty x
ReplyDeleteHi Vix,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and love vintage stuff although I don't get time to actively wear it!
I have a question if you don't mind answering?
Last month I bought a great leather jacket on ebay. It's great, fits really good but the lining stinks so musty it's unwearable without smelling like an old suitcase that's been left out in the shed!
Do you know of ANYTHING that might make the smell go away? I've tried fabreze and even deodorant! I really wanna wear it but the whiff puts me off. Do you have any tips?
Many thanks,
Julie xx
you always manage to find good things even despite the odds...and you look absolutely fabulous in that maxi dress...love that photo of you and Rosalind! cool you got to meet her.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dress, really my type of print! And I love the jacket, those sleeves are simply fantastic!
ReplyDeleteIf anyone other than me has to wear an elephant frock I'm glad it's you ;-)
ReplyDeleteI hate getting followed round shops, I always just leave. Part of the reason I have not suggested inviting you lovely ladies to my neck of the woods is the shocking expensive and badly stocked charity shops, we have loads of them they just aren't great.
See you in Bath! I have had the fair on my calendar for weeks in anticipation.
ReplyDelete£85 for an old army jacket? Reckon it'd be cheaper just to go to the army surplus place! If you were in the south-west at the right time, I'd recommend trawling the chazzas in my hometown, Trowbridge. We've got a string of ten, nine of them reasonably priced, in easy walking distance of each other - some people grizzle about the town being all charity shops but I *love* it.
Quite sure I'll be dreaming of the velvet jacket for nights to come! Really fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI HATE that attitude of "You look slightly different from my usual person so I will deem you a criminal!!" Urgh!!!" Glad they had nothing to tempt you-swinebags!
ReplyDeleteYes, some charity shops are ridiculous in their pricing- I went to one in Parson's green London and they were charging £50 for a second hand, not particularly interesting Kate Spade top!
Your amazing brown sleeves are fabulous- reminds me of a Regency velvet Spencer Jacket- I've always wanted one like Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice!x
Hey, the Queen of sleeves! Really intrested in the black, floral dress with ruffles. Is it for sale. Do you Think it will fit a very tall woman?
ReplyDeleteTotally loving your outfit and that brown velvet jacket is glorious - it is a real stunner! xxx
ReplyDeleteOhhhh I hate those op shop biddies that follow you around. Can't stand it. Love the kinky additions my fave is the blue scooter dress.
ReplyDeleteDog print fleece .... haha! This gives you a sense of the usual clothing choices in our thrift charity stores. All the good stuff is found in the curated vintage shops, that have wonderful things with high-ish prices that reflect the fact that they have rare vintage pieces on offer.
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful in all of these photos! Your hair is so pretty.
How rude! Myself and a friend used to get routinely followed around HMV. Didn't matter if the security wasn't around, he'd appear like magic once we walked in. Never mind that we always purchased something xxx
ReplyDeleteI think my original comment git eaten by the computer! Just wanted to say again how thrilled I was to meet you.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite charity shops are the ones where they price low and turn stuff through in a day or two - they probably make just as much as shops with higher prices that sell less often
Xx
Most divine sleeves! Sweeping, majestic, and oh so freaking awesome. I can see those ruffled shop workers clucking around like pissed off hens, watching you. Ha. I went to a shop in a chi-chi part of town and was met with outrageous prices and crap inventory, and no sign of staff. Maybe they went to hide...?
ReplyDeleteYou always triumph in the end. Stellar new stock. And meeting so many wonderful people while you work. Great photos.
I remember going into an antique shop and being trailed by the shopkeeper the whole time. Not to be helpful … she didn't even acknowledge me … but just to be sure i didn't make off with the stock I assume. Suffice to say I bought nothing and never returned!
ReplyDeleteCheers :0)
xx
Sounds like they mistook you and Jon for Bonny and Clyde. How absurd! And yes, some of those chazzas are out to fleece you. They put all the blues together and the yellows, then think they're a boutique. I know when I donate stuff, that I want it to be resold at an affordable price for people on a tight budget. I no longer give to the ones who chalk it right up and are rude, so they lose out in the end. Anyway enough about them, let's talk about you. You look so pretty. I just love that brown jacket. What about those sleeves? Aren't they amazing? It's always lovely to see blogging chums, old or new. Rosalind is like a model!! Your ability to find stock is very impressive. You must really put in the hours. Lovely to see Kinky go from strength to strength. Xxxx
ReplyDeleteThose sound like the prices at farm near all our thrift stores!
ReplyDeleteHello, here I am at last after a week of racing !!! These beautiful clothes you wear, even those of your friends .. wow! You made me have fun, what looked like a second hand shop Italian, they are always terrible places! So .. better wardrobe Grandma! Luckily you have also found very nice things. The two skirts are great for me! Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteserena
p.s. I love Montalbano! eheheh
Loving the maximum effect maxi!!x
ReplyDeleteOh I so glad you got to meet Rosalind! She is a true delight. Such a shame about those mean volunteers, I hate it when chazzas act like boutiques. Good that you found some treasure though! XXX
ReplyDeleteI adore the sleeves on your velvet jacket!!! And of course, your entire ensemble is perfection!
ReplyDeleteI can understand your charity shop rage. There are a few places here that are enormously overpriced. It never ceases to amaze me.
Loved your blogger meetups! Always the best!
Oh my gosh, the sleeves on the velvet jacket are positively DREAMY!!! I've never understood why shop staff think they have any right to be snotty to customers who they don't think are up to their imaginary standards. I agree with Curtise in that any business selling secondhand goods have to decide whether they are going to price their stock high in hopes of getting fewer, but larger sales, or lowering the prices and clearing out the stock to make room for new stuff. We have a thrift store in my neighbourhood where the owner prices anything anyone shows interest in so high that she never sells anything - it's become the joke of the neighbourhood.
ReplyDelete... If I don't swoon over capes today ... I swoon over this breath taking brown velvet jacket with these huge trompet sleaves. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI miss flea market selling already ... As we don't have indoor vintage markets here in Germany like GB or the US, I have to wait til next spring ...
First up - sleeves on THAT JACKET?? *DIES* Secondly I am so sorry to hear that you guys were treated so badly while shopping, I mean REALLY! You guys hardly look dodgy!! Glad you managed to find some lovely things and as always you look fabulous xo
ReplyDelete