Friday 13 November 2015

When Bloggers Meet - Wine, Women & Wetherspoons



There's little a younger woman can do that an older one can't - shop for England, put the world to rights over a pint, explore new places without getting lost, dress how the f*ck we want or strike up conversations with strangers - just don't expect us to be too hot on technology. This was our feeble attempt at a selfie.


Thank goodness for a kindly policeman who, observing us cackling helplessly at our feeble attempt, offered to take our photo before arresting a fare dodger.


I know that I seem to meet bloggers almost every weekend but we're working and I rarely have time for more than a quick chat. How I wish I could spend more time with some of the wonderful women I've bonded with on-line and who've made a special effort to travel to one of our vintage fairs to say hello.


Yesterday Curtise, Tania & I managed to co-ordinate our time off and spent an entire day together doing what all the best meet-ups consist of, choosing a random place to meet, trawling the charity shops for vintage gems, a boozy & delicious lunch in Wetherspoons (gourmet vegetarian Mexican burgers with chips & onion rings), a bit more shopping and a lot more alcohol.


..and what treasures we found! This 1970s-does-the-1930s Tina Warren maxi was made for Curtise.


I found some great stuff.


We can't get enough of these 1960s waistcoats. They're a Kinky best seller. 


A gorgeous military-styled cotton velvet capelet. The same label as my huge sleeved maxi (seen HERE)


I love a cross body bag, they're perfect for festivals and car booting. At 99p this 1980s Italian leather beauty had to be mine.


I can spot 1960s lurex at 100 paces, made back in the day when Dorothy Perkins was a hip and happening label.


Not one but two vintage Jean Varon dresses (there was a third but that's another story). The stylish puffed shoulder of this 1970s midi caught my eye on a rail of otherwise mediocre high street frocks.


Top quality stands out a mile. I knew this tartan maxi was going to be something good when I spotted it peeping out from the centre rail the second I set foot in the charity shop. Even if you have no interest in vintage fashion whatsoever John Bates (aka Jean Varon) designed Emma Peel's wardrobe in second half of the first season of The Avengers in 1965 - 1966. 


Curtise gave me this fabulous 1970s sequined top by Vera Mont, set to become a festival staple, I reckon. Tania made the groovy lavender bag (and grew the filling herself).


 She also gave me this stunner of a midi dress - a style I rarely wear but love on other people. The paisley print fabric looks very Liberty-inspired and it shows off my 1960s go-go boots a treat.

WEARING: 1970s midi dress, vintage go-go boots & felt hat (car boot sales), Original 1960s Biba dragonfly & velvet choker (inherited from Mum), 1970s coin pendant (gift from Em)
What a fantastic (and much needed) day out! Blogging friends are the best. I'm definitely doing more of this in 2016 - this year's schedule has been punishing.

Oh dear, Mr Policeman, you're a bit wobbly.
Back to reality. Just five more fairs until the selling season winds down & the Xmas madness takes over. We're in Liverpool with Judy's tomorrow and Sutton Coldfield on Sunday, do come and say hello & browse our rails. We're not as scary as we look, honest! 

See you soon.

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday.  

44 comments:

  1. I hope you come to a Weatherspoons near us in 2016!!! Shopping with you would be educational, I would love to learn more about vintage labels - infact that could be a whole new post! I remember Chelsea Girl in my younger days but never ever see anything with their label any more - not built to last perhaps? I bought a coat with my first wage packet from them (fake suede!)... I like your go go boots.. hope you do some good sales over the weekend and get to meet more bloggers. Betty

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  2. Sounds like a perfect day out! Curtise looks fabulous in that maxi and I love Tania's etch-a-sketch!!! x

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  3. Happy happy day, sigh ! Smiling from ear to ear reading about your adventures girls.
    Need a day like that myself, deep sigh xxx

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  4. I absolutely adore your selfie, Vix!
    xox

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  5. I recognise that charity shop but just cant think where at the moment , Glad you was able to take a break xxx

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  6. I would never peg you for scary, rocknroll famous perhaps but never scary!

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  7. So good to see you with the girls and taking some needed time to yourselves. You all look gorgeous and fabulous finds to. dee xxx

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  8. Too bloody right it was a much needed say out! Lovely to see you gals together and looking so flippin' gorgeous.
    Brilliant hauls too-Curtise's maxi is made for her and I do love a capelet.
    Have a stonking weekend.
    Loves ya.
    xxxxx

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  9. I'm drooling over Curtise's maxi. Beautiful. Looks like you had fun, blogger meet ups are great but they don't happen often enough for me either. I like you in midi for a change! Xx

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  10. Oooh, that midi dress is perfect!!! So pretty!! That Curtise top is brilliant! You'll be fab festival! We used to have a 1970's sequinned top, we loved it!

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  11. Oooh, that midi dress is perfect!!! So pretty!! That Curtise top is brilliant! You'll be fab festival! We used to have a 1970's sequinned top, we loved it!

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  12. Had to laugh at your selfie attempt...I was just the same with the Frenchman, had to delete about five!
    What a fabulous 99p bargain your leather bag was and I can just see you rocking that sequin top at Glasto next year. It would seem your day was packed with laughs, booze and vintage shopping, ingredients for a perfect blogger day out I'd say. Bring on the next one! xxx

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  13. gorgeous pics of you 3 all giggling!!! wonderful!
    this jean varon dresses are very elegant and stylish - was this a expensive brand at the times??
    wish you great faires until x-mas - or should i say until india :-)
    xxxx

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  14. Oh wow that dress on Curtise bloody magnificent! It's always a treat to see you lot get together, love it. x

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  15. Day out, friends, food, booze and shopping - heaven!

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  16. Looks like a blast! And some fab finds.

    Truly this does seem like the perfect day. Wish I could have been there with you all!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  17. Hahaha, that selfie is hilarious! That's the reality of our days out, isn't it, dodgy photos but plenty of laughs! And on this occasion, plenty of fab vintage finds too - didn't we do well? Tania and I are in awe of your vintage-seeking skills, you hone in on it in seconds! I keep thinking of all the things we saw but left behind... I'll try and get a post sorted including that third Jean Varon, but I took only took about 5 photos all day, bloody useless! And I'm also slightly concerned that I grew while we were out, I look like a giant next to Tan in that photo in the loo!
    It's always a great day out when we get together, it's been far too long (work, it gets in the way of socialising, doesn't it?) and I can't wait for the next one.
    Tania's dress looks amazing on you, btw, please don't ever discount a midi - especially when you have fantastic boots to go with it.
    Have a good weekend - love you! xxxx

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  18. Glad you lovely ladies had a lovely day. You always manage to find such amazing pieces. I am in awe of you shopping skills. Love that Jean Varon brown dress and onion rings.....mmmmn. I truly adore Tania's jumpsuit. The colour is fantastic. Have a great weekend! Xx

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  19. Good on the policeman for helping out you three, and why wouldn't he, chance to take a snap of three gorgeous women and all!!!

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  20. such beauties. i particularly love tania's orange pantsuit set. lovely! x

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  21. Three brilliant women let looses on the shops and the pubs - there is simply nothing better. Looks like the most fun day, with fab finds too. xox

    patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  22. Oh what I wouldn't give to tag along on a shopping/drinking/laughing trip with the three of you. Love the selfie!

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  23. You look fantastic in the gorgeous midi! Xx

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  24. Wow, looks like you had a blast! I'm so envious! And I love that midi dress on you, you should wear it often:)

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  25. Nothing like a blurry selfie with big grins as evidence of a good time! Glorious! I love the zipping and buttoning and fussing when trying on clothes with friends. What a fantastic boozy lunch day. I do hope you get more of them next year.

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  26. Looks like crazy fun … which is my favourite type of fun ;0)
    xx

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  27. Oh, how I love blog posts that show people out and about doing their thing. You ladies look like you're having so much fun together. The day sounds perfect and your finds were excellent. What a beautiful dress Curtise found too.

    I love your new dress on you. That's a length I don't usually wear either, but the prairie style of that one really makes the length right. And it is nice to be able to show off those boots!

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  28. Nice to see all three of you together! Looking fabulous, I love Tania's orange-y look and your bright maxi! Curtise's newly found dress is gorgeous.

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  29. Looks like such a fun day. Good on the helpful policeman! I love the 70's paisly dress, looks fab with the hat.

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  30. You do look scary, but in a good way. Women should look a bit scary I think. I have been looking more scary myself in my secret spy 40s outfits as it's winter now and I like a bit of drama in the winter.

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  31. I think the first selfie, with Curtise in mid-laugh, is a perfect memento of the day! I felt a bit closer to the two of you when my friend Heather was recently in the UK doing research on public libraries (she was even in Sheffield briefly) and she stopped at a Weatherspoons for a pint and a bite to eat!

    The shape on the tartan Jean Varon Maxi is really cool, and I'm looking forward to seeing you rock the sequinned tank top. That dress really was made for Curtise, wasn't it.

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  32. Fun, fun, fun. Oh that was such a good day. I've got a couple of lovely photos of you in the third Jean Varon coming up very soon. You looked perfect in it. I also really love you in that midi dress,(that was one of those buy what I like kind of presents) but I always know if you don't like things you can pass them on to somebody else via Kinky. Our selfies get worse! :D Curtise looks so happy! She's right though, what happened in the toilets? I've turned into a midget and she's transformed into a giant. I can't stop snorting with laughter at it! Xxxx

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  33. Three gorgeous women and it looks like so much fun! I am envious of Curtise's cross body bag and a midi and paisley, well two of my favourite things right there! In the picture of Tania in her tropical orange outfit, there is a wooden sewing box in the corner. I used to have one just like it that had been my grandmothers. It is one of the few things I've gotten rid of which I regret. I suspect I'd be tempted if I saw one in a thrift shop though it wouldn't be my grandma's and I think that part matters.
    I wish I could visit you at a market or fair, and I would definitely love a day of friends, food, booze and shopping. And I could drop more F bombs than I usually do and fit right in, right? Such a lack of really good cussing in my world. xoxoxo

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  34. Oh you three cutie pies!! Looks like mucho fun!

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  35. Noticed by a LEO were you? How fortunate that he was the friendly sort who smiles and took some snaps that show you smiled back! One supposes that many of the folks you encountered on this outing found their spirits lifted by your loving life attitude that day. Curtise's maxi is a five star find!

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  36. I am in love with that brown Jean Varon dress. Stunning!!

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  37. That midi dress is a stunner indeed...I love how you styled it...those boots are so fabulous.

    When bloggers meet...cool things happen! It is great seeing bloggers I know from their blogs on your blog....so far, I had the pleasure of meeting two blogger friends and it has been a blast.

    p.s. I can see why those waistcoats are the best sellers....talk about vintage pieces that stood the test of time!wow!

    xoxo

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  38. You all look like you had a brilliant day out.

    How do you find that stuff? HOW? I'm still chuffed to have found a 60s dress once in a chazza, and they just seem to fly off the shelves towards you. You're a proper vintage magnet.

    I always use crossbody bags when I'm travelling. They leave my hands free for taking pictures and faffing with maps and guidebooks.

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  39. OH it always looks like you three have the best fun when you get together! Tania's jumpsuit is incredible! I actually love that midi dress on you, it looks fabulous with the boots. xxxx

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  40. You look great in the midi dress! It's a length I'm really loving this autumn. It just looks so good, showing your boots off rather than hiding them in a maxi!
    I cannot believe you left the best dress in the shop though!!! xxx

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  41. How I would love to meet you at one of your vintage fairs. Your blogger meetups always look like the best of times. Laughing, shopping for vintage, drinks with lunch. I'm not ruling it out.

    You, Curtise and Tania looks as stunning as always. Here's to more fun times next year!

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  42. I keep meaning to pop down to the Bristol or Bath vintage fairs and say 'Hi', but stuff gets in the way! Hopefully I'll catch up with you sometime next year. I'll have to check your 2016 fairs list and block off one of the days in my diary and save the date!

    You all did well on the charity shop front. Curtise looks fab in her maxi - that would have caught my eye too, and that taupe Varon dress is gorgeous. And you're right about those puff sleeves - they are an eye-catcher. Isn't it great when you can pick out a detail like that on the rail and its turns out to be a real gem.

    P.S. I saw your FB post about the third Varon - hope you'll do a blog post about it!
    xxx

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  43. So much warmth and friendship in a post. I do not think the police felt that the assignment was boring ...

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  44. I LOVE that selfie! It's pure joy! I have some lavender sitting around from last summer...humm...maybe I now know what to do with it :D

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Lots of love, Vix