Thursday 10 March 2016

Ancient & Modern - Secondhand Finds of the Week



Shock horror! Not only do I buy vintage clothes from charity shops but, very occasionally, I find some cracking modern stuff, like the gigantic wool shawl of indeterminate origin I found in a 50p dump bin yesterday and promptly remade into this super cosy maxi skirt.


The inside label on these fleece lined leather boots by German company Caprice claimed to be like "Walking on Air". I've had them on since 8am and they're not wrong. A quick Google search revealed that they retail at £80, I reckon I did well for £2. 


These black suede boots were from the same chazza and also £2. I loved the 1930s-type styling and that they were a 39.5 (my true size so no need for Poundland insoles). The name Stuart Weitzman didn't ring any bells but it turns out they retail for £395 and these babies haven't even been worn! Whoever can afford to spend that much on footwear and then give it away unused really should adopt me.


When I'm travelling I swear by my Kobo (my secondhand E-reader) but the rest of the time it's real books. Age UK do 3 paperbacks for £1 and these took my fancy. These Foolish Things is the novel from which the wonderful Best Marigold Hotel is loosely based, I've seen the film three times so I'm excited to read this. The Geoffrey Moorhouse hardback was 50p.


My ancient PC has been on the blink for ages, my mobile phone doesn't have internet access and I don't own a laptop, tablet or any of those new fangled devices, so I was forced to splash out on a reconditioned hard drive from eBay (which wasn't as expensive as I'd feared).  Jon spotted a keyboard yesterday that was in a much better state than the wonky one I normally use so we snapped it up for £3. The pair of bastard massive curtain ties were 50p from the same discount bin as my skirt fabric. I'm tempted to nick one to wear as a necklace. 

Old stuff's still our main passion though. Here's just some of the groovy vintage we've found this week.

Clockwise from top left: 1930s tailcoat; Lilian Douglas of Darlington cotton maxi; One (of two) pith helmets; Harella wool and velvet coat; Cape sleeved maxi; Cotton maxi; English-made brogues; Debonair sheepskin boots; St Michael bell bottoms; Spanish-made metallic leather & glitter cowboy boots; Pheasant print wool jumper; Tie-dye, velvet trim maxi; Icelandic knit; Gents' tapestry waistcoat; French-made wedge heel wellies.

Me-made maxi skirt (made up as I went along without a pattern, don't look too closely!), fringed bodysuit (charity shop, 2014), 1960s lace-up suede waistcoat (Xmas present from Liz, 2013), Lamani coin pendant (India)
We're trading with Judy's in Oxford on Saturday (details HERE) and Vintage Village at Stockport (see HERE) on Sunday. Come if you can or, if not, I'll see you on the other side of the weekend!

Jessica of Chronically Vintage did a fabulous post featuring 1960s-loving blogs. You'll find me, Curtise and some other wonderful bloggers in there. 

63 comments:

  1. The skirt is fabulous on you. Cheers, Michele www.vintagethrifter51.com

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  2. I'm surprised you haven't heard of Stuart Weiztman! Mind you, I'm learning all the time with each charity shop purchase. I got a pair of £130 Swedish Hasbeen clogs this week for £4.50, like new. You've done really well with all those purchases, and that scarf does make a fabulous maxi on you.

    I've always wanted one of those helmets, it's a pithy I won't be coming to any of your fairs soon (boom boom! Sorry, couldn't resist that bad joke!)

    xx

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    1. Hehe!! It's the second pith helmet in a week, how mad is that?
      I'm a rubbish female as I've never been into shoes or handbags. I do have a pair of Hasbeens (given to me by a friend), I love how they look but I can't walk in the bloody things. xxx

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  3. Goodness you have been a sewing goddess this week loving the skirt what a great use of recycling a scarf :-) I cant believe the cost of those boots some people have more money than sense bet they never appreciate anything in life if they can just throw them away like that unworn. Great stock finds this week, have a great weekend, dee xx

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  4. What a haul! I had a similar pair of Stuart Weitzman ankle boots in the early '90's an aunt gave me, i thought I was the bees knees stomping around San Francisco in them.
    Love that shawl skirt & the finged bodysuit!
    xox

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  5. Ooh you found some corkers. The two pairs of boots are gorgeous and the tall tan boots in the smaller pictures are beauties too. Well done on the skirt. It turned out great, even without a pattern. xxx

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  6. That skirt works really well.
    Love the tailcoat and the pith helmet.
    Zxx

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  7. I always get a kick when you use the "bastard massive" phrase. I have yet to use is appropriately in one of my posts!

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  8. Wow, great finds - especially comfortable boots! You might consider reselling those 396 pound boots - they look amazing but that could make a huge dent on your next air tickets to India :)

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    1. I've checked the prices on eBay and they aren't that great. They're so comfy I'm happy to keep them. xxx

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  9. What a fab maxi you've made...and without a pattern, blimey clever you. Wool for 50p can't be bad, was it originally a peshwari? (as my mate calls pashminas!) Amazing score on the boots too, especially the comfort factor. Wondering what sort of punter would purchase a pith helmet?
    xx

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    1. Peshwari is my favourite type of naan bread!
      I've sold one before to a really drunk bloke at a festival. I kept imagining him waking up and wondering where the hell it came from. x

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  10. You got some cracking buys there missus and the homemade maxi is wonderful.
    I'm just back from helping a lady dress select her outfit for a 50's event. Hey I could have a new career looming here xxx

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  11. You did a great job on the skirt, it really makes better use of the pattern then it would have as a shawl, I like the black suede boots a lot.

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  12. Wow, what a lot of cracking finds. I love your skirt, it looks fabulous and not at all "home-made". More "hand-made". :) Pith helmets make me think of "It Ain't Half Hot, Mum" and "Carry on up the Khyber". They don' make 'em like that any more. Probably a reason for that..... Have a great weekend! Xx

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  13. That shawl skirt is amazing!! Absolutely love it!!!! You did well on all your purchases, I hope your new boots remain comfy!!!x

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  14. Brilliant finds! Love those black suede ankle boot/shoes and the ones you're wearing in the photos. I love how you've converted the shawl to a maxi - it looks so stylish with the fringed bodysuit and waistcoat.

    I cannot believe people will pay so much for clothes/shoes and then not wear them - madness!

    I've got the '100 year Old Man' book but haven't read it yet - the Deborah Moggach book is very good.

    I wish I had known you were in Oxford this weekend I would have come along but have planned to visit my son on Saturday. I need to check your itinerary for the future in case you're near me...

    I absolutely love the velvet trimmed maxi dress in your vintage finds.

    Have a great weekend!
    xxx

    Veronica
    vronni60s.blogspot.com

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  15. Such a fantastic look! I wish I could find the same pattern as your skirt in a bedspread. I think it would be fab as such, too. And that vest - slaying me, totally slaying me!!! :)

    Many hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

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  16. Oh Vi some where in my stash I have scarf ,soon to be a skirt ,thanks for the idea xxx

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    1. Far more useful as a skirt, Jan! Hope it turns out well! x

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  17. That was a great idea refashioning that scarf into a skirt-the pattern really suggests a skirt, doesn't it?

    When I went off to do my graduate field work I was given a pith helmet as a joke, but I certainly never wore it! You found two? I can't imagine anyone really wearing one without a great sense of irony.

    The glittery cowboy boots are great beyond words. Someone is going to be so incredibly happy to find those.

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    1. A few years ago we shared a guesthouse in india with a New Zealander who wore one, he had a twirly waxed mustache and a safari suit and looked quite the part except for the fact that he'd lost his only pair of shoes and had to walk around barefoot as his feet were so big no Indian shoe shop stocked anything to fit him. x

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  18. fabulous revamp!, love that you improved a beautiful printed shawl into something way more funky and enjoyable!, as a huge fan of wearing shawls as skirts, I'm loving it!!
    And I'm still working in my 9 years old computer, even if my nerdy friends said me it's a fossil. But it works (and it's cheap to fix it!). My keyboard came from a trash bin at work, so I'm not a cool techie lady either!
    Love to see you rocking your skirt, and watch your little computer's corner!
    besos

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  19. Ah such wonderful buys. Looking amazing as always. Xx

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  20. The skirt is fantastic! what a score on boots. Onward to spring.

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  21. That skirt turned out marvellous! You can perform sewing magic with just about anything.

    Stuart Weitzman is very big here. You did well.

    Hope you have a brilliant show!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  22. That skirt is perfection. And nobody rocks a vest better than you! It seems like everything you touch turns to magic. Beautiful inspirational magic.

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  23. Hi Vix, Your boots are incredible! You also found a fabulous stash of vintage clothes. The straw (?) hat was interesting. ;-)


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    1. That's a pith helmet, Cherre. A strange piece of head gear worn by the British colonists in the tropics. Very odd to find them here! x

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  24. So you are doing shawl couture now? I have a wicked old huge square Russian shawl that is going to get transformed into something one day soon, that is when I can make a track to my sewing machine!

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  25. Love that skirt , I have never been very lucky with shoes from charity shops , well done with those two pairs of boots xxx

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  26. If I had been good looking in pants, I had thrown myself over the yellow one's.

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  27. These boots are the real deal, congratulations! I especially like the second precious pair! The skirt is fabulous and ... I have not yet learned he read books with e-reader even on the go, I need paper and pages to be read, but sometimes it's not easy to take on holiday a book with six hundred pages! I have three computers called Frankestain, they were resurrected by Marco miraculously !! These tents are fantastic and even your corner for the PC, beautiful!

    ;***

    serena

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  28. stuart weitzmann unworn for 2 bucks!!!!! wow!!!
    love your new bold skirt - well done! and the second hand updates for your ´puter seems very clever to me!
    so many fab finds - i think i need a "chazza date" in the near future.....
    xxxxxx

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  29. I love the Harella coat! Don't suppose its a larger size is it???

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  30. Fabulous you-made skirt - I love the pattern and you look wonderful. And all your finds, sigh - I've got to get to your place to shop in person one of these days. xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  31. The maxi looks good from here to me, and sounds like brilliant finds. I love the Icelandic knit and the brogues too. x

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  32. lucky you! i'm always just as amazed as you are when i find high end things that are unworn! it happens all the time and i just wonder who can afford to do that. lovely lovely as usual. x

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  33. Have you watched this on BBC

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06z8840

    The Marigold Hotel on iplayer with actors who go to India to see if they want to retire there. It is really good

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    1. Loved that series! A great watch after we got back from India and were all sad. x

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  34. @Thoughts Running Through My Head - the coat is a vintage UK 14 (so fits like a modern 10-12) x

    @annie b - We loved The Real Marigold Hotel. We caught up just after we got back from India. x

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  35. Yah for upcycling, love that skirt it looks great and I can't believe anyone would pay so much for boots then send them to a second hand shop :O I'm glad I'm not the only one that still picks up novels at op shops/charity stores. I can't believe how much new books costs (also I'm just not an e-book kind of girl!)

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  36. You'd never know that hadn't always been a skirt! Love the grey boots too! x

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  37. Fantastic! Your sewing skillz are awesome. I looked at my sewing machine yesterday - at least that is a start! :D
    And I'll be looking for that book at the library - I so enjoyed the movie!
    xox

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  38. Awesome footwear finds! And your scarf skirt is great on you.

    With regards to reading, until recently I was solidly in the camp of only reading actual books and would spend ages scouring the shelves at our thrift store for my next read. That was until I discovered that our library has almost any book available to borrow digitally. Now I'm a complete convert and have been reading so much on my iPad. It's opened a whole world of books for me. It did take some getting used to, but I'm reading so much more. That said though, you get much better deals on your hard-copy books than we do, so if I could find what I wanted at those prices, I'd probably still be reading actual books.

    xo

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    1. That's fantastic! I leave it to Jon to find me interesting downloads, there's still lots on mine I haven't read but I cracked the screen on the way back from India and need to start trawling eBay for a cheap replacement. x

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  39. Fantastic refashion Vix! You always find such great things in charity shops, sadly the ones where I live aren't so great anymore. Hope you have a great weekend! x

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  40. Once again some great finds Vix! Oh, and I always buy all of my books in UK charity shops whenever I'm there. It's always a logistic nightmare bringing them home to Belgium, but worth it. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. xxx

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  41. Top finds lovely. That makes a fab skirt and the boots are a proper score.
    I always get my books at the chazzas and pass 'em on when I've read them. I've got My Life as a Traitor on my pile ready to go.
    Love those yellow trousers and pith helmets make me think of Don Estelle and Windsor Davies!
    Loves ya.
    xxxxxx

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  42. Boots, bargains, beautiful you, and bastard massive curtain ties = a brilliant post ♥

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  43. made without a pattern.....you crazy woman you!

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  44. Steady on, you'll be telling us you've got electricity and an indoor bathroom next. Those Stuart Weitzman boots are a really elegant shape. Great find, but like you I'm staggered that you found them unworn. Tell your new adoptive parents I'll come too. I'll be no trouble. Very clever work with the wool scarf. Cozy is exactly what is needed right now, although isn't the sunshine absolutely wonderful? Those St Michael trousers are wonderful. Anything yellow always catches my eye. I always love that suede waistcoat from Liz. Hope you did well at the weekend. Xxxxx

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  45. what?? silver cowboy boots!! YES!! YES!!!

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  46. I do have a pair of Caprice shoes aswell ... bought them new and love them. really comfy. Stuart Weitzman is kind of the not so famous brother of Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blanik. so this really was the steal of the steals. I like more the look about them as the brand. ;)

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    1. No way! that was a good find then! Those Caprice boots are so comfy. x

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  47. The skirt is a triumph! No need to worry about the sewing on the under side - it's the look on top that counts, and it looks amazing!
    You always find wonderful stuff - those knee-high sheepskin boots look as though they should have your name on them as well as the two pairs of ankle boots. It never ceases to amaze me what some people get rid of to charity shops, but thank goodness they do!
    Glad the PC is all sorted, and those curtain tie-backs are just perfect.
    Sorry to be late commenting - life is full-on, but thankfully there is a day of play to look forward to tomorrow!
    Love you! Xxx

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  49. I so love that suede waistcoat that you're wearing - it looks great teamed with the fringed top and your home made maxi xxx

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  50. Those silver cowboy boots..love it!

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  51. Pith helmets are such fun! Andy loves them, but I know he would only wear it playing!

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Lots of love, Vix