This skirt has been hanging on the Kinky Melon rails for over a year. Every so often someone will pick it out, sigh and put it back, saying they never go anywhere to wear it. Sometimes a prospective customer will try it on but, even if it fits perfectly, I'll be told that they don't think that they can get away with wearing vintage and hand it back.
I could point out that they're telling me this either when they're visiting a vintage fair, where at least half of the people there are dressed to the nines or they're at a festival and, unless it's the dullest festival in the world, boring dressers are the minority.
I could suggest they could make a bold print less dressy by adding some aged suede and your favourite leather sandals, haggled over at a flea market on your travels.
 |
| Bastard massive feather earrings (TopShop clearance sale, 2010), Vintage 1960s "Alfred Tricker Crafts" snakeskin & stainless steel choker (Car boot sale) |
I could tell them this....
 |
| Designed by birthday babe, Suzanne |
Even if life is mostly spent doing the mundane stuff, there's no reason on earth why anyone can't wear a fabulous vintage piece to do the supermarket run, trawl the charity shops or pop to 'Spoons for a quick pint. What's the worst that can happen? Someone in skanky leggings and a stained vest might laugh at you and seriously, do you really need their approval?
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| Vintage tapestry print cotton maxi worn with 1960s suede waistcoat and a pile of ethnic silver bangles |
Thanks for the hip love, still waiting for an x-ray but things are feeling a little easier.
The skirt was meant for you - that is why it is a keeper!
ReplyDeleteJust kills me when you call your jewelry "bastard massive" love that term.
Pinned your motto to my Color Two Snaps Up Pinterest board - I also think that was the motto of the Blogger meetup in Vancouver 2015.
You need to drop "bastard massive" into conversation, Tami - it's a proper Black Country saying. xxx
DeleteI'd keep it too x
ReplyDeleteHooray! I sometimes wonder if my taste is crap. Jon's finds usually get snapped up before mine do! x
DeleteNever a day goes by that I'm not in some vintage outfit or other. You can still look good cleaning the floors.
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited to have purchased my first maxi skirt. No stanky leggings or t-shirts in the Holland household X X x
Hope you are back in full swing soon.
Dressing up is great for the self-esteem, isn't it? Even the dreariest job is made bearable when you're feeling good about yourself.
DeleteCan't wait to see the maxi! xxx
Well I'd be hard pressed to get rid of that skirt when it looks so fabulous on you. Especially with your amazing accessories. You are channelling Cher here big time.
ReplyDeleteSo fun to see my card here again : )
Glad to hear the hip is a bit better. Fingers crossed for a quick non surgical recovery.
Have a great weekend!
bisous
Suzanne
I've been meaning to add your inspired art to my sidebar for ages, Suzanne. I love it.
DeleteI'm determined to see out the last of my forties without the surgeon's knife.
Have a fab extended birthday weekend - make it last at least a month. xxx
Oh man those feather earrings!!! The vest is killer!!!! The skirt looks like a linen or cotton blend---super sweet!
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, it might have some linen in it, it's got that slubby (not slutty - as the spellcheck keeps suggesting) feel! I used to have a serious weakness for Topshop sale jewellery - I'm almost pleased the local branch closed down! xxx
Deleteyou are so dang beautiful and you are right. why wear awful clothing when so much beauty is available?! much love to you and your hip. :)
ReplyDeletexo
You are sweet, Janet! I'm piling on the jewellery and ramping up the style to hide my sensible footwear! xxx
DeleteI couldn't possibly agree more, dear Vix, and actually find that dressing up is a really important part of my life that helps me to counterbalance a lot of the less beautiful, if you, will elements of such. As well, it bolsters my confidences, helps me to feel all the more like myself, and is wildly fun to boot. Though I can understand the reasons why such is the case, I will never fully accept the continued casualization of fashion and how readily many people save dressing up for only the most important (weddings, Christmas, etc) of days - if even then!
ReplyDeleteThis outfit is stunning - that snakeskin choker very much included - and the skirt couldn't possibly have found a better home than in your own closet.
Tons of hugs & happy weekend wishes,
♥ Jessica
Very eloquently put, Jessica. The ritual of getting dressed and putting some thought into an outfit are wonderful for the self-esteem and confidence. I don't get the overly casual thing either, sleepwear in the supermarket is never a good look. xxx
Deleteamen, sister!!
ReplyDeleteall that I could say, it was said better by you in this post!, what's all that nonsense about 'never go anywhere to wear it' when you're enjoying a festival?, it sounds so strange to me than a comment I listened: "I would like to be so courageous than you to wear this". Courageous? Are you kidding me?
Anyway, you look gorgeous wearing your maxi, your suede waistcoat and that absolutely stunning necklace and massive earrings!!, fabulous accessories!
And it's always lovely to see that amazing work of art by Suzanne, she's so talented, and you look so fab!!
besos
Suzanne is so talented - she should be a millionaire with her great eye and wicked sense of humour.
DeleteI know - brave and courageous are words you'd use to describe people who'd been through real trauma - not a way to describe a person who wears print and colour. What is the world coming to? xxx
My dress is purple, black, yellow and blue and I only just walked down the road! Great outfit.
ReplyDeletexx
That sounds like a wonderful dress - I bet you cheered up everyone who passed you. xxx
DeleteYou keep it, lovey and do it justice.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you...life can be dull enough without dressing to blend in or worse still, fade away. And as for the baggy arse legging brigade, let 'em smirk...feck 'em.
Have a fab weekend.
Loves ya.
xxxxxxx
Ta, love!!
DeleteYou have to laugh when someone in grey jogging bottoms carrying a can of wifebeater asks what the fuck you're wearing. If they'd told me I looked good I'd probably have thrown myself in the canal. xxx
glad that the hip is feeling better. I think it's a fabulous skirt and you've done the right thing rescuing it from the masses who can't appreciate its beauty. It needs to be worn and loved. How much more fun would life be if we all dressed up to go to Tescos (other supermarkets are available, although not in my home town). Having been catching up with your blog recently, it really struck me this morning when I was doing the supermarket sweep of doom how dull everyone was looking - saggy leggings or jeggings de rigour. Frankly, if they are going to judge me for wearing a skirt and some massive earrings - let em!!
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you, Julie.
DeleteIt isn't just me who thinks that the general public are dressing more drably then? Even the sunshine isn't helping. xxx
Love the skirt...but then again you always look fabulous!! Hope your hip continues to improve and you have a fabulous weekend. Cheers, Michele
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michele! I think its a keeper. Have a fab weekend. xxx
DeleteI think it war yours all the time, that is why nobody could see it in its right light.
ReplyDeleteAmen for a day without dressing up is a day wasted. You are the queen indeed
Much love
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Takes one to know one (a queen, not a skirt!) xxx
DeleteWoohoo!!! /Our Vix is rockin' that Sino-Tibetan print maxi with a veritable zoo of animalic accessories!
ReplyDeletePutting Cher to shame there. That skirt looks pretty tame to me, but I'm a native Californicator so what do I know?
xox
You're right, dear Bibi - there is a Tibetan vibe going on with that print. I'll wear it when I eventually come and visit you! I know, its not the wildest of prints or colour combos - probably why I didn't try it sooner. xxx
DeleteI couldn't agree more with the title of your post, Vix. It's my mantra as well. How anyone can be happy wearing skanky leggings and the like, I'll never know. I'm loving your skirt, and those massive earrings and 1960s choker are totally you! xxx
ReplyDeleteYou certainly do live by those words, Ann! I can't imagine you ever leaving home without making an effort.
DeleteSkanky leggings and iffy vests should be banned. They suit nobody! xxx
The skirt is fantastic and it's a shame it was languishing on the rails for a year! I would have bought it if I had a) seen it and b) it was my size. I would have worn it too, because I do like maxi skirts.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it's yours now and it looks gorgeous on you. I like how you styled it with the suede waistcoat and the jewellery - it all comes together beautifully.
I think many people lack the confidence to carry certain items of clothing off, such as maxi skirts, and of course many just want to blend in with the crowd. I like to dress up each day in something that feels comfortable but also looks good on me and which suits me. I enjoy planning my outfits and mixing and matching items because dressing should be fun and not just purely functional...the motto says it all!
Glad to hear the hip is not playing up at the moment...
xxxxx
You'd look great in it, Vronni. You look amazing in wide legged trousers and maxis are just the same thing minus a seam!
DeleteIt is sad that so many people are frightened of being looked at but nobody is invisible so it seems a real shame not make a bit of an effort. Commenting about someone's outfit is a great ice-breaker, it's passed many an hour on Indian trains or boring bus journeys in the UK. xxx
I agree with you completely, I often get people asking me where I'm going "all dressed up" and when I reply something mundane like Tesco I get the oddest side looks. I just don't see the point in owning something you're only going to wear "for best", it's putting things away for a day that might never come. I'll never understand why people care so much about the opinions of complete strangers, especially as most members of the general public don't even know how to dress themselves. I saw leggings so skanky the other day they'd gone completely transparent.
ReplyDeleteGlad your hip is feeling a little better, I meant to comment my well wishes last week but time got away from me. Best of luck for the x-ray, hope it's good news for you!
Hello Freya! I've helped clear so many bereaved homes and it really is sad to come across clothes bought in the 1960s with the tags still on, the previous owner buying something for a special occasion and never getting the opportunity to wear it.
DeleteHonestly the state of some leggings wearers I've seen, you can even make out the colour of their pants, anything is better than that. xxx
Whoa, your post is like a good drug. I had been close to OD-ing (on bad ones) being around so many high falutin' people lately, by choice, but I've had enough to last a long, long time. And Shelley kept it real and fun, especially with drinks at hand.
ReplyDeleteYou are fabulous in this and I'm glad you have kept this treasure. You need little cards to hand out with what you just wrote here, but then, what's the point? Man, Suzanne has got talent!!! Glad to see her card here.
I have to go back and read about your hip! Too far behind... But glad it's feeling better.
I've loved seeing you & Shelley together! I know the feeling, sometimes I feel I'm going to be driven mad by the inane chatter on Facebook and the drably dressed people on the street. That goodness for Blogland, the chance to mix & chat with real people, with interesting things to say and outfits than don't revolve around cheap sportswear or clapped out leggings! xxx
DeleteSome day I hope to just pull anything form my closet and know it will look and make me feel special. I ma slowly weeding out the pieces that are downers, but will probably hold onto my tee's. They kind of have been my security blanket when I've gone a bit bold on the bottom.
ReplyDeleteYou will get there, Sam! Even if the wardrobe you end up with is tiny much better to own things you instantly feel good in. It's great that you feel like you in your tees, many people never get that far. xxx
Deletethe fabric/print of that skirt is fantastic! i would buy it - if you don´t mind that i will shorten it to midi, from top down to be sure it´ll fit my not so tiny waist......
ReplyDeletehooray to dressing up!!! xxxxxxx
It would look wonderful as a midi, Beate. It's got that structured shape (and lining) that works brilliantly at any length. xxx
DeleteHa, I too have a thing for Topshop sale jewellery- bad- I have far too much novelty tat jewellery!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that skirt! If I found one on your stall that fitted me and was actually long enough (a common problem with me and maxis!), I would totally buy a maxi like this (in darker colours maybe!) xx
Hooray for tat jewellery - I'll take that over diamonds any day.
DeleteSo many vintage maxis do come up short - but there's always crochet, pom-poms or glitzy Indian trimmings to add a few inches. xxx
P.S. yeh, the title- totally, massively. Yesterday I wore a German traditional blouse and today I wore a Parisian vintage dirndl skirt (except CBC said I looked like a granny in it-git!) x
ReplyDeleteI bet you looked wonderful (when don't you?) - boo to CBC! xxx
DeleteCan't believe that maxi was not snapped up. Even squinting at the tiny pics on my phone I can see the fabric is quality. As for chavtastic see-through leggings and dreadful onesies (I saw a woman shopping in one last week) they ought to be consigned to Room 101! (or a bonfire) I've been a bit slack about dressing up lately, something I'm going to change as it really does make me feel a whole lot better. The snake skin choker and pendant are totally cosmic btw. I'm hooked on Disparu! Xx
ReplyDeleteWe're loving Disparu, so many twists and turns. I just can't make up my mind who the guilty party is.
DeleteGawd, a onesie in the supermarket! I once saw an entire family catch a flight in dressing gowns, pajamas and slippers, I was appalled.
I think it's big prints people have a problem with, ditsy is just fine. Weird. If you're going to wear a print it might as well be a bold one. xxx
that's skirt's great. Why waste time at a vintage fair is you don't like it? That makes on sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI despair sometimes. Vintage has become a trendy label, people think they should own something but haven't got a clue where to start. xxx
DeleteThey're loss is your gain, right! I seems like it was made for you! :)
ReplyDeleteToo right. I can always put it back when I feel the need - its second-hand already! xxx
DeleteI'm so with you on this. I'm getting more flamboyant on a day to day basis. Love that choker. It's such a beautifully crafted piece. xx
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that, Lovely. The older I get the less I care about anyone else not liking how I look.
DeleteI've always loved chokers but this one takes the biscuit, I'd love to find another. xxx
That outfit is stunning. And I totally agree. Everything in the stores looks like something from another era anyway. I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't want to go with something authentic. We all know the fabrics and prints from back in the day are so much nicer than what they use for the modern "vintge inspired" stuff.
DeleteVix you rule! One of the girls in my office was feeling sad about the velvet jacket she didn't buy at a second hand shop because it wasn't in fashion or some such thing. Just buy the jacket and live your life! It's best this skirt is with someone who loves it x
ReplyDeleteThat's so silly, if she loved it and had the cash why would being in fashion matter? xxx
DeleteIt looks like a linen mix, nice. I would wear it with a cream crochet waistcoat and brown beaded t shirt underneath and some massive clogs.
ReplyDeleteI think it is and its fully lined, too - don't get that with much modern stuff, do you? I like how you'd wear it, I love clogs but always end up kicking my own ankles! xxx
Deleteyou look amazing.lovely outfit.
ReplyDeletehttp://digitizingzone.com
Thank you!
DeleteTruly, I cannot understand how that gorgeous skirt remains on the rail!
ReplyDeleteGood news about the hip inflammation abating! Have you tried taking fish oil capsules? (Not that I'd recommend the smelly ones, not with those feline fascinator feather earrings...) Can't hurt.
I know, Beth. The fabric's natural, it's lined, the colours don't jar and the print is bold but beautiful. Nowt as queer as folk!
DeleteI've tried glucosmine but not fish oil (I don't eat fish) - might be worth looking if there's a vegetarian alternative. I'll try anything. xxx
I don't think your skirt looks that outrageous, it's quite a soft, muted pattern. Very lovely, by the way. I had a "tapestry" dress in a similar fabric as a child, which I loved.
ReplyDeleteCompletely love your "bastard massive" (autocorrect wants that to be basted!) jewellery. I have worn chunky silver jewellery since I was a teenager and love feather jewellery too. I think it's called having personal style rather than just following fashion...
Hello Tanya! Your childhood dress sounds lovely. You're right, it's muted and subtle and not at all outrageous or overly loud. Maybe if I wear it next time I'm trading it'll get an offer.
DeleteI got my first silver (and lapis) ring when I was 11 and still wear it now. When you find things you love you don't give a toss about the latest trends, do you? xxx
I get similar comments from people about having nowhere to wear vintage, and it makes me sad. I can't imagine letting my day-to-day activities dictate whether I can dress as I please. Sure, there are places where it might be inappropriate (a very conservative office, etc.) but what about the rest of their lives? I'm known around my local Aldi for my hats and specs. I don't have anywhere particularly smart to go either, but I'd still dress as I like.
ReplyDeleteMy kid is now using, "Bastard massive" as in, "This bastard massive package arrived for you today." I wonder where he learned that (probably not from anyone in Omaha)? ;)
It's beyond me too, Goody and there's no reason why someone can't wear a vintage coat, bag or scarf and take it off when they get to work if the dress code is really strict.
DeleteI bet your visit is the high spot of the Aldi employees' day, maybe you're known as "the woman who wears the specs?"
I love that the kid is using "bastard massive", we'll make an honorary Brit out of him yet! xxx
Gosh that's a beautiful skirt! Your post is inspirational...sod the skanky legging wearing peeps!! You look lovely as usual, and the flowers in the pots are blooming nicely!!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing nicer than venturing forth in an 'unusual outfit' and receiving a compliment. There are too many lazy people who choose not to dress up to the nines.
And yes, a day without dressing up is a day wasted!!
happy thrifting ;)
happy thrifting ;)
Thanks, TP! There are a lot of lazy people around. There's comfort and there's dirty clothing, worn-thin leggings, greying bra straps on show and trashed down footwear - no excuse for it.
DeleteMy poor plants aren't faring well, I abandoned them for a weekend and now they've been beaten senseless by 48 hours of non-stop rains! x
You're preaching to the choir sister! That skirt is a gem; quality fabric and a beautiful print! The vest and jewellery make it more casual and funky, but you could dress it up too. It gives me great joy to be more interestingly dressed than most people ;)
ReplyDeleteI can't see you in skanky leggings - ever!! I did think of wearing the skirt with a fab 1970s sequinned boob tube Curtise gave me, might be a festival outfit. xxx
DeleteVix, that skirt is so you and it goes with your waistcoat so well that it must have been giving off psychic signals for people not to buy it but to leave it for you instead. I love all your jewellery and you looking fabulous. You could seriously get a job as a stylist. I get the side eye here too from the neds at our local shopping centre. I have to laugh as most of them are wearing the uniform of unwashed, crumpled Primani jammie bottoms, vest top with discoloured bra and a pair of Ugg boots wheeling the ubiquitous grubby toddler accessory. Why, oh why? Glad to hear that your hip is, if not better, then manageable. Xx
ReplyDeleteKelly, the uniform you've described worn by the town centre masses are spot on, down to the manky discoloured bra usually worn with a scoop neck vest top! I'd love to drag one of them into a chazza and dress them, they are obviously incapable of doing it themselves. xxx
DeleteTell it, preach it, sister Vix! Love that skirt, and the long vintage skirt I bought from KM goes *everywhere*. Stay cool, you. xox
ReplyDeleteYour KM skirt was very nearly mine, Patti! xxx
DeleteI love your whole creation! You look Fabulous! And the "bastard feather massive earrings"...thanks for the close up shot. From someone who feels naked without earrings, I think they're amazing. Thanks heaps for your fabulous blog...love it!
ReplyDeleteNamaste,
Elizabeth.
https://fabulousageing.blogspot.com.au/
Hello Elizabeth! Lovely to meet you. I love a pair of earrings, too - the bastard bigger the better. Popping over to yours right now.....
DeleteYou look fab in that skirt. Maybe YOU are the person who was meant to have it after all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mim! I gave the public a chance but it wasn't to be, now it's mine all mine! xxx
DeleteTheir loss, your wonderful gain!
ReplyDeleteSomebody complimented my 'costume' the other day ... costume indeed! It's sad that dressing properly is considered so rare that the only possible explanation is that it's a costume xxx
Costume? Blooming cheek! I often get asked why I'm all dressed up, they look bemused whan I tell them I'm always dressed up, even if I'm not going out. xxx
DeleteI agree getting dressed up for the mundane stuff makes like so much more fun! I can't believe no one wanted to buy the skirt, it looks fab on you. Sometimes I think it is about knowing what to wear with something when it is a bit different to your usual style.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ceri! I think you're right. When asked I'm happy to give advice to customers but feel a bit pushy if I tell then how to wear something without being asked. xxx
DeleteYou wear it well xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Twiggy! x
DeleteYou are on fire! Love it. Well said - and the skirt is gorgeous, such a beautiful print. You accessorized it brilliantly!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalia! xxx
DeleteYou always make me laugh when you go a bit feisty on us. Skanky leggings and stained t-shirts! Haha! Although I don't know how I dare. I still can't dress myself and if Q isn't around I'm having to make compromises. Might need a day out to get my standards back ;) The skirt looks great on you. I'm amazed it's been rejected. It's funny that people would approach your stall and even try things on before saying they can't wear vintage. They need you to style them up! Xxxx
ReplyDeleteOh no, are you still struggling? We need to find a dress making pattern for a fab frock that can be pulled on and off) easily with no silly back zips. xxx
DeleteYes!! They DO need you to style them up. I think they're just waiting for the gorgeous and enviable Vix to give them permission.
ReplyDeleteWatch out festival-goers, next time I'm trading and I've a couple of pints of wine inside me I might go all bossy on them! x
DeleteHa, skanky leggings and stained t-shirts - well said! I think it's such a shame when people feel this way. Their loss is your gain though, that skirt is made for you! x
ReplyDeleteIsn't it sad? I don't know why everyone can't make an effort. xxx
DeleteHi Vix, I absolutely agree with all you have written. I'm not much of a commenter but your blog has been such an inspiration to me over the past few years. I have started to gradually collect vintage and vintage styles pieces and adore wearing them wherever I go, rather than saving them for an occasion. A day without dressing up truly is a day wasted, I live by those words. I know that it is difficult to convey that to people who don't understand it, but you should know that you are definitely inspiring people to be themselves and dress in a way that gives them great joy. Jessica.
ReplyDeleteHello Jessica. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and what a lovely one it was.
DeleteHaving lived through a horrible period of clinical depression when I stopped wearing make-up and could hardly bare to face myself in the mirror I now see every day as cause for celebration. The ritual of putting on lipstick and zipping myself into something colourful, vintage and fabulous is my way of telling the world that I'm ready for it. I'm delighted you feel the same way, we must spread the word.
Getting dressed up is not only good for the self-esteem but it's also a wonderful icebreaker. Lots of strangers in town will talk to me about what I'm wearing and we end up greeting each other like old friends whenever we bump into each other. x
People are batty aren't they really? When I wear clothes that aren't "normal" (I'm very hippy) people often comment, but I find that as I get older I care less :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE how you dress Vix, you always look gorgeous x