I've got a bit of a thing for purple at the moment. It's the perfect antidote to a miserably wet Wednesday mostly spent doing the end of year accounts and battling Storm Barney to deliver them to the accountants around the corner.
It figured heavily in my weekend wardrobe, too. On Saturday I chose a feather-trimmed velvet maxi bought from good friends (& fellow Judy's traders) Make Do & Vintage. I originally wore the cross pendant I'm wearing today but Jon said I looked like a vicar and as I was trading in the crypt in Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral and, as you well know, I've never been one for appropriate dressing .
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| Vintage velvet maxi worn with 1970s leopard platforms and a pendant I made from part of a jewelled Lamani gypsy head dress |
My passion for the colour have been contagious, I sold out of purple maxi dresses when we traded in Liverpool.
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| 1970s maxi worn with 1980s purple suede boots and yesterday's pendant |
On Sunday I wore my geisha print maxi at the Sutton Coldfield Vintage & Art Fair.
It's not a passing fad. I've been wearing it for nearly 49 years. Mum detested wishy-washy pastels and dressed me in purple as a baby. Well, it was the 1960s...
My Wetherall of Bond Street cape has featured regularly on here since I started blogging.
What to wear underneath my cape is always a puzzle. It works best with a mini dress with sleeves and I've worn my usual three to death so I knocked this up. There wasn't much of the fabric so I had to make it a lot shorter than the pattern suggested. Back in the 1980s the lads from the boys' school used to call me Nice Legs Shame About the Face and they probably still would. I'll just have to remember to wear big pants if I'm planning on doing any bending.
The mega-shortness of the mini shows off these studded 1960s suede boots to full advantage. They came back from our chazzing trip to Sutton Coldfield a fortnight ago. After seeing a fake fur coat in the shop next door for £95 I had to check with the woman behind the counter that the label did say £6 and not £60. As you can probably guess they were six quid. Thank f*ck for that. I'd have been devastated to have left these beauties behind. Modern boots aren't made for slim calves, they make my legs look like a broom in a bucket.
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| Me-made mini - made to a 1972 Living pattern using 1960s psychedelic Dicel (charity shop bargain bin) and a 22" metal zip salvaged from the rag bag. Worn with a vintage stainless steel pendant (car boot sale), 1960s go-go boots (Birmingham Settlement) and bastard massive hoop earrings (£1, Punjabi dress shop) |
We're trading in Bristol on Saturday (see HERE) and hopefully I'll have time to photograph and share some of the incredible vintage finds we've had recently before they've all been snapped up.
See you soon!
See you soon!
Purple looks fab with your complexion and that cape - THAT CAPE! *hubba hubba*
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a grand weekend of trading. Love that geisha print dress too!
The guys you went to school with sound like utter morons... wonder where they are now?!
www.mancunianvintage.com
Purple is my favourite colour too, even my campers purple! Looking great as always, and i love the old photo, so cute
ReplyDeleteThe lads from the boys school sound like prats, although they're right about the legs, you do have great pins but you have a striking and attractive face - your lovely generous personality shines through.
ReplyDeleteMy mum never dressed us in pastels either, she loved bright bold colour, still does, at 84 she's started dying her hair pillar box red. She says no one would believe she's not gone grey now and if she's got to get old she's going to do so disgracefully!
I love purple too, and like your mum, I can't be doing with washed out pastels - give me strong and bold any day! Your me-made micro-mini shows of those more-than-nice legs a treat, that print is wonderful, and I adore the boots (I don't have the broom in a bucket problem, vintage boots are always too narrow for my sausage-y calves, ha!)
ReplyDeleteOoh, the purple velvet and feathers number is glorious and would have looked divine with the cross pendant (see what I did there?)
What an adorable little toddler you were, all blonde hair and chubby cheeks, and rocking a mini even then, you little love!
Those silly boys from school wouldn't know where to put themselves if they saw you now, they'd be dazzled. By your beautiful face, your fabulous style, and of course your arse if you bent over. They should be so lucky!
Apprentice later - chat then? Love you, Hot Legs! xxx
What an adorable baby! Just look at those cheeks!
ReplyDeletePurple loves you. That velvet maxi with the feathered sleeves makes me want to grab a midday martini.
I hope you do well at the show this weekend. I'm sure you will.
bisous
Suzanne
As you know, I love purple too. Love your mini, especially with those tights and boots! xx
ReplyDeleteIt 'nice to have a color that saves us! I love the purple combined with emerald green, but Marco critique my color combinations! These men... ;/
ReplyDeleteYour mini-dress is fantastic, and the cape is beautiful, a masterpiece! When I look at your photographs I have eyes in the shape of heart, how many outfits spectacular! Even the divine queen of the gypsies and circus, Moira, would love your clothes and your style! Guaranteed!
a quiet Wednesday evening
serena
Yep - purple does it for me too, hence the tights that you commented on in my blog earlier! You look amazing in the extra-short mini and teaming it with the cape is outfit perfection.
ReplyDeleteCute baby photo too, love the dress you're wearing in it. It's funny when you look back at those photos from the late 60s and 70s and all us little ones are wearing nappy/pants revealing dresses! Roll forward a few years into the 80s and Mum used to give me hell for wearing super-short mini skirts! You can't win them all, hey? ;-) xxx
You bloody rock purple you do. Loo at your baby photi...what a super cutie! I had all sorts of purple paisley mini dresses when I was a tiddler. Liza's right, they were so ridiculously knicker flashing short. God, another world it was.
ReplyDeleteLove the boots too. Gawjuss. I can't jam my rugby players calves in to slim fit vintage boots...the zip gives out halfway up!
Cheeky bastards knew nothing. I bet they're fat and fuck all now.
You are beautiful.
Loves ya.
xxxxxx
I love that purple velvet dress ,My favourite colour and I love velvet xxx
ReplyDeleteOh my lord Vix, that cape is gorgeous!!! really amazing. the fabric looks lush as well, proper quality. Amazing vintage at its best. (Loving the studded boots too, but mostly I've fallen in love with that cape!).
ReplyDeleteWhat is not to love about purple? Looking fab as ever. x x
ReplyDeleteBroom in a bucket legs haha love it. I've got legs like that too. Those boots are fabulous.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous baby pic.
We are off to London tomorrow. Two shows booked Mousetrap and Dusty Springfield story. Portebello road on Friday and vintage spitalfields and Brick Lane Sunday. Sooo excited xxx
Oh yes, you look brilliant!!! I always remember your Weathrall purple cape, it is a real beauty! HAAAAA, I had such a giggle thinking of you looking like a bishop!x
ReplyDeleteoh yes, hurrah for purple fabulousness!, you look Gorgeous wearing your mini dress and amazing cape, love it, it's something that can cheer up any dull day!!
ReplyDeleteAnd lovely maxis too, that velvet piece is Awesome!! You rock purple!!
besos
I'm a fan of purple too, it was such a colour of the 70's wasn't it? Those new boots of yours were a real find...I have the opposite problem finding any large enough for my chunky calves.
ReplyDeleteYou were a gorgeous baby of course, I have toddler pics of me sporting short frocks but back then it wasn't big knickers but baggy rubber pants !
Hope you do a roaring trade in Brizzle. X
I love everything you're wearing, and you look beautiful in all of them. Even that adorable little dress you wore as a toddler!
ReplyDeleteI love purple, too. It is the color of royalty and the insane. Long live purple. So nice to see your beautiful gams but what total idiots the boys at your school. I'd like to see their ugly mugs now. I'm sure they've got the faces they deserve. You have always been a beauty as is clear from your adorable baby picture.
ReplyDeletePurple is a marvelous, magical color to add to one's fall fashion palette! A micro-mini wouldn't suit my figger; however, the cape would definitely be worn weekly, if not daily, and I do believe the tights would perk up my rather tired winter boots. Love the detailing on your dark "buckets"!
ReplyDeleteLove that psychedelic mini! - especially with the cross and boots. If you wear blue, you'll probably sell out of blue too. And so on. Good luck at your Bristol gig. Soon it will be beaches and bikinis.
ReplyDeleteI too am a big fan of purple! Love your outfits and those beautiful new-to-you boots. What an amazing find they are! xo
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about modern boots, since my ancient boots finally died four years ago I have tried on about a hundred pairs, they all flap around my calves, every pair are huge round there.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with your face! The boys were clearly idiots. Or perhaps they objected to the fact that it wasn't gazing at them in cow-like adoration.
ReplyDeleteYou'd have made a very funky bishop if you'd worn the cross. I'd attend the Church of Kinky Melon - regular pilgrimages to festivals and India, and a ripping dress code.
purple looks beautiful on you vix! i'm loving that velvet one - so chic. xo
ReplyDeleteYou look great in purple - it's such a fun color and always gets attention. Your new boots are quite a find and look perfect on you.
ReplyDeleteYou look wonderful in purple, it really suits you. Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who suffers with the whole 'broom in a bucket' look when trying to find boots on the high street. One winter I bought and returned so many ankle boots it was crazy! xx
ReplyDeletePurple is brilliant on you, with your raven hair. And you rock a mini like no one else I know - fabulous. xox
ReplyDeletePatti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Another fabulous wardrobe selection! I like you in a mini. I'm with you on the modern boots being like wellies thing, I have to be very careful in my choices and generally favour lace-ups that I can tighten. Yours were a bargain, I am eyeing up a pair in leather that are a bit '60s, but they're £150!! Gah. I have been looking for the perfect black leather boots for years now, still no closer..
ReplyDeletexx
Love love the mini you made it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGosh whether it's a maxi, midi or mini you rock them all! Xx
purple, purple and more purple....yes, please
ReplyDeleteHello Vix - Purple looks fab on you! and I love your face!! xox
ReplyDeleteAt this time of year, with this grim-grey weather particularly, there's something about a favourite vibrant colour that just lifts the day. For me it's bright, electric blue, preferably in velvet.
ReplyDeleteSooo envious of your cape.
love your purple wardrobe!!! this color suits you very well!
ReplyDeletebut your baby pic is to cute for words!!!!
xxxxxx
I love the velvet maxi - purple is my favourite colour too. Good luck with Bristol, will look forward to your next post. :D
ReplyDeleteI love a bit of purple and that cape is fabulous Vix. Perfect with your newly made mini dress.
ReplyDeleteX x
You're so pretty in the purple cape that I actually think of it now and then
ReplyDeletePurple is a great colour on you. What a beautiful cape! x
ReplyDeleteAs ever you look amazing in your lovely purple outfits. That cape is fantastic. I can't say our charity shops are quiet - the two I visited this morning were heaving!!
ReplyDeleteSo much lovely grape, plum and violet! The velvet, feather-trimmed maxi is beautiful, but I think it needs a "bastard massive" cross ;)
ReplyDeleteYou were an adorable little cherub, with those cheeks and curls!
You look wonderful in purple … the more dramatic the better.
ReplyDeleteGreat boots and I'm still giggling at your broom in the bucket comment.
xx
The outfit including the minidress with the cape looks like a purple dream! What a stunning outfit!
ReplyDeletePeople should wear more capes ...
You are a plumb goddess in all the purple! I love that pic of little blonde chubby cheeked you!
ReplyDeleteBaby Vix, so flipping cute! I love the expression on your face. Butter wouldn't melt. Bet if we prised open one of those pudgy little fists there'd be a prize bloom from that border in them. Put me down for that purple velvet dress in your will, will you? It is heavenly. You look so beautiful in your geisha print maxi, don't know how you do it when you're up so early. The closest I'd get to oriental beauty would be panda eyes. You always look great in that cape. I don't half envy you your sewing time at the moment. Bet you're really enjoying it, and looking forward to a bit of time off to do some nice things now the end is nigh. Broom in a bucket legs! Snap. I always think of umbrellas in a stand. Funny. Those boys were probably just trying to get your attention. After all, it's clear they weren't right. Xxxx
ReplyDeleteLooking perfect in purple Vix! I love that mini dress - I don't know about you, but sometimes when I make 60s patterns they seem to be exceptionally long anyways, which doesn't make sense as I'm sure I'm taller than a lady from the 60s! Anyway you look fabulous especially in that feathered velvet outfit and that cape will always be a winner:)
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