Evergreen

If we're friends on Facebook you'll know that we lost our beautiful girl, Polly, last Friday, hence the extended silence. Thanks to all who commented and messaged us, your kindness meant a great deal.

We're trading with Judy's at Bethnal Green this weekend and we've completely thrown ourselves into preparing for what's going to be our first vintage fair in over five months. During the Summer any spare time between festivals was spent vintage hunting so at least 80% of the stock we're taking on Sunday is completely new to us and had to be measured, priced, tagged and thoroughly rechecked. A three day job it may be but it's proved a welcome distraction.

When I was checking this 1970s John Marks for Anne Tyrell maxi I discovered a tiny hole I'd missed when we originally bought it. Whilst unfit to grace our rails it's more than welcome to adorn my body. I'm nowhere near as much as a perfectionist with my own wardrobe as I am with the Kinky Melon one. John Marks is the designer behind one of the most treasured pieces of vintage I own, my psychedelic velvet maxi coat (last worn when we traded in Bath HERE) - I'll be wearing this green dress underneath it when the weather gets colder.

I've discovered that wearing plain clothes (as opposed to those adorned with a wild print) require a bit more thought. Print hides a multitude of sins whereas large expanses of plain fabric show off badly fitting (or lack of) underwear. No chucking this dress on over my usual M&S cotton shorts, instead I had to delve deep in the knicker drawer for some non -VPL pants and an ugly, long-forgotten tee shirt bra. I'm not one of those women who spend a fortune on underwear, a multi pack of pants will last me years and I rarely bother with a bra. If I ever do get run over by a bus, the doctor would probably be appalled by what horrors lurk under my clothes but I can't imagine I'd be in any state to care.

Anne Tyrell for John Marks maxi (Charity shop), 1970s felt hat (50p, Car boot sale, 2009)

It's the first time I've owned anything made from Ban-Lon although it's phenomenally popular with our regular Mod customers when we have any on our menswear rail. It's breathable, retains it's shape and colour brilliantly, is fabulous to wear and, according to this crazy 1960s advert, still looks good after being scrumpled up in your handbag and worn after a shipwreck. It really is a mystery why still isn't being made.

Advert courtesy of  Get Some Vintage Appeal

It's Vix's law that dresses (plain or otherwise) should be accessorised to within an inch of their lives with as much bastard jewellery as is humanly possible to load on your body. The three-stone turquoise index finger ring is my latest addition - when we were out charity shopping yesterday a lady on her first day volunteering in Age UK said that she'd been told to expect me and pointed out this ring that had been specially reserved behind the counter. Obviously the description she'd been given of me and the manager's knowledge of my taste were spot on. 

If you're in or around London on Sunday it would be great to see you (you'll find all the details HERE). If not, you can check our itinerary for the rest of the year or browse the Kinky rails in our on-line shop. The gorgeous Mim did just that buying a Sixties Crimplene dress suit - she's rocking the hell out of it on her blog, HERE.

See you soon.

Linking to Judith's Hat Attack ; Patti's Visible Monday & Sydney Fashion Hunter's Fashion Link-Up