Wednesday 29 March 2017

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - A Bloggers' Day Out


It's been ages since I last saw Tania & Curtise so when we met yesterday we were far too busy catching up to take many photos (thanks to Tania for sharing hers). We chose a town we'd visited a couple of times previously because it ticked all the right boxes - within easy reach of Sheffield, Nottingham & Walsall and with all the essentials, a train station, loads of cheap charity shops and a Wetherspoons. I could tell you where it is but then I'd have to kill you....


After telling the girls that I wouldn't be buying any stock 'cos I couldn't be arsed with lugging it around all day, within minutes of entering the first chazza I'd snapped up a 1960s dress suit for the Kinky rails...promptly followed by a jacket, a dress, a trilby hat and a scarf.... and so the buying continued. I pounced on this lurex maxi knowing it would look incredible on Curtise and it did. The black Berketex midi dress was another of her purchases but although we loved Tania's vintage Austrian Loden suit it got left behind as it needed a bit too much work to tailor it to fit her tiny frame.

Tania's photos

 I loved the colour of this Angela Gore of London gauzy cotton maxi but felt it was a tad too demure and Little House On The Prairie for my liking and despite this 1970s wedding dress having the bastard massive sleeves of my dreams it went back on the rail. Jon and I celebrate 25 years of unwedded bliss on Saturday and, after a quarter of a century together, still have no desire to tie the knot. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Check out those bags - that's what I call a successful day of charity shopping! (Tania's photo)

After we'd scoured the chazzas, exchanged presents and devoured smashed avocado bagels, chips and beer in 'Spoons we returned to our favourite charity shop as the manager had kindly offered to sort out the stockroom and find us another rail of vintage to rummage through after lunch. 

Tania's photo

This gingham and cheesecloth maxi was a winner. I'm not sure if it was the naughty lace-up bodice or the label I loved the most.

Uninhibited - it's got my name written all over it!

Here's what else I bought:

Handmade cotton mini dress with pockets; 1960s lace dress suit; Gents' vintage scarf and feather trimmed trilby; Aquascutum bomber jacket.

These were my gifts from Curtise & Tania
Clockwise from top left: Moroccan leather babouches, Vintage swimsuit; handmade wrap top; Feather earrings; Taunton Vale ring holder; 1970s Indian cotton tunic

Shopping done we returned to 'Spoons for yet more booze and chat and then, all too soon, it was time to catch our respective trains home but not before we'd had a bash at the obligatory failed middle aged selfie at the railway station. None of the photos do us any favours which just as well we're old enough not to care.




What an ace day. We really need to meet up more often. Who's up for joining us next time?

See you soon.


100 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. No wonder we don't do Instagram - our selfies are terrible! xxx

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  2. So funnn!! How cool the store owner grabbed more stock for u ladies!!!! Angel sleeves are not enough, although marriages have been based on less, reason for a wedding!! lolololol

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    1. Aren't we lucky? The chazza shop workers loved our fashion show! xxx

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  3. First! Oh blimey, I am chuckling to myself over those bloody selfies - and the fact that I look like a giant next to teeny tiny Tan!
    I'm so glad you bought the Uninhibited frock, it looks so great on you, but I still think you should have snapped up the wedding dress, if only for the sleeves and to terrify the life out of Jon!
    What a good day we had - my favourite things (cheap vintage, chazzing, food and beer) with two of my favourite people, can't say fairer than that! Yes, let's do it all again before quite so long.
    Love you! xxxx

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    1. The poor bloke's already all over the shop what with my Wonder Woman costume!
      It was an ace day and it went by far too quickly. Hopefully it won't be that long until the next one! xxx

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  4. meeee!!!
    if it were possible....
    soooo wonderful to see lovely curtise with you girls, having fun and laughing and shopping fab dresses! huge thanks to tania for the photos!
    hugs&kisses!

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    1. I wish you could join us, we'd have an absolute blast! xxx

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  5. friends and thrifting? That's what I call a fun day out. I love that all of you can go places on the train. What's a train?

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    1. A killer combo! A train? Perplexing things that transport non-driving bloggers to charity shops up and down the country. Even though I lived the nearest my journey involved two of them and took the longest. xxx

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  6. I think your photos look great! What a fun day and I love that your friends dress in vintage too. Those sleeves on that wedding dress are over the top fabulous. Couldn't you have tie dyed it or something to make it look less bridal? And that cute maxi with that label was truly meant for you!

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    1. The only way is vintage!
      If that dress wasn't 100% synthetic I'd have been tempted to chop it and dye it but, years of past failures, I know that dye doesn't work on nylon. Shame! x

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  7. Another fine day led by England's finest ladies :) That wedding dress rocked, you should have bought it and had a 25 years of unwedded bliss party:) That bathing suit is pretty groovy too, only need a matching bathing cap

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    1. It's Liz's 50th Birthday party tonight so we're jointly celebrating anyway. A white dress, curry and booze? Not a great idea! xxx

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  8. I am going to cross the great big pond and come see you! You all looked like you had a blast!

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  9. I am ready to join you *raises hand* you guys look like you had a fabulous time. I would love to meet Curtise, I follow her blog too.

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  10. Awh how I've missed seeing the adventures you three get up to. It's been ages. I'll play out next time and will bring a mahoosive bag for all the clobber I'm bound to bring home. It so lovely to see you all again x x x

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    1. It was lovely to catch up - it's been almost a year! x

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  11. What!?!? No posh toilet shot? Lovely to see you girls together again, your day had all the essential ingredients to be a good one. Your uninhibited frock is totally gorgeous and what ace gifts you received. I'm up for another meet up, can you believe it's been two and a half years since we mobbed Second To None.
    xx

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    1. I know, no posh toilet photo, too much chatting, not enough attention to our blogging duties!
      We need another Second To None trip this Summer. xxx

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  12. Such a trio of lovely ladies-the selfies are wonderful!

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  13. Next time I am in England I am joining you for sure.
    Wouldn´t it be grand??'
    Many kisses to the three of you
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

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  14. I'm still pretty darn curious to see what kind of wedding you would put on though. I'd pay a lot of money to come out and see that!! And they wedding dress with the sleeves! Holy moly I love it!!

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    1. If the only way I'm going to meet you is to get married I might have to forget my principles and go for it! x

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  15. That charity shop is literally opposite a Spoons. No wonder you are all so happy!

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    1. Perfect, eh? You can see the reflection in the glass! x

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  16. How lovely it is to see Tania and Curtise. Neither are blogging at the moment and I do miss them - and their blogs. Smashing photos and hopefully Tania and Curtise will write a blog about the meet up.

    You have done so well - what a brilliant haul! I went to my shop this afternoon to check out the vintage maxi they had in the window - it was gone! I nearly cried. I just wished I'd thought to phone them in the morning and asked them to save it for me. Oh well; you win some and you lose some.

    What lovely presents you got, too.

    I'm guessing it's Derby you went to?

    I'm with you on the no marriage thing - after 19 years together this May there's absolutely no need for it.

    xxxx

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    1. Not Derby but not far off!
      What a shame about that maxi, I bet you'd have looked far better in it than the lucky buyer.
      Absolutely no need, I'd rather spend my cash on holidays and beer! xxx

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  17. What are you talking about you all look fab! You always look like you have such fun together and what amazing things you find. x

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    1. Thank you!! We do have a laugh, it's brilliant that blogging brought us together! x

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  18. How lovely to see you three girls having fun and having a shopping spree. The first thing I noticed (apart from the difference in height between Curtise and Tania) were all the bags. I need to come with you next time! If I was only a bit nearer. Middle age? What middle age? xxx

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    1. I know, there's a ridiculous amount of bags! No wonder the charity shop manager was happy to go and have another rummage through the stockroom knowing what shoppers we are! xxx

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  19. Fabulous girls! Love all the frockery an dthe selfies are ace. Uninhibited? Not 'arf!! Yep...I'm with Fiona..a trip to Second to None is looong overdue.
    Loves ya!
    xxxx

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    1. June would agree with you there, she's always asking about you all. xxx

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  20. What a day you had! I think you should have bought the wedding dress and dyed it your favorite color! :)

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    1. I've never had any success with dying nylon. I bet it'll end up in a kid's fancy dress box rather than a wardrobe, poor thing. xxx

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  21. Good friends and vintage-sounds like a perfect day out. I think you all look great.

    That vintage swimsuit would be calling my name if I thought it would fit (it wouldn't).
    I got hitched in a mauve taffeta cocktail dress from the thrift store-but I'd have much preferred that white gown with the sleeves.

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    1. That wedding dress was enough to make anyone want to get hitched, even me (almost!) xxx

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  22. Fabulous as ever! I cannot believe you left that wedding dress behind it's magnificent.

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    1. I think it topped the marabou feathered Jean Varon dress I tried on the last time! xxx

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  23. How wonderful to see you all having so much fun together. Great to see Curtise as well.

    I'd be there in an instant if you weren't a 7 hour flight away.

    You should know better than to suggest you won't shop.

    That wedding gown was insane!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. You were one of the bloggers we all would love a day out with! We need an international day out! xxx

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  24. Bloody brilliant! Glad you all had an amazing time xx

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  25. Sadly Lincoln is totally picked to death on the vintage clothing front , we are a student and tourist town , with charities that have a vintage shop in the touristy area plus lots of vintage clothing shops , the prices are horrific but i suppose they have to be with the rents and rates in the tourist area . You still get the odd bits and bobs at the jumble sales but nothing exciting. Doesnt mean that i stop looking though .

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    1. I've heard good things about chazzas in Lincoln. Good to hear that you still keep looking, it's the only way to do it. xxx

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  26. What a fun day put. I love all three of your blogs, you're all utterly fabulous! Xxx

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  27. wowwwww, lovely ladies thrifting and having fun, that's my kind of thing!, love to see your purchases and all the fab things you tried on!
    You're so fabulous ladies!
    besos

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    1. Blogging is wonderful for bringing so many of us like-minded women together. xxx

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  28. If you were closer I'd certainly join you!! I think you should have bought that bridal dress anyway, you could wear it around the house ;) Loving that '60s lace suit, some great finds on your day out. Xx

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    1. We did have a blogger day out in Cardiff a few years ago, it was glorious! x

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  29. It looks like you had a blast on your girls day out and judging by the comments you may need to organise a convention!! I'm in :) you all found some fab clothes and you all look lovely and happy in your photos. Congrats on your 25th xxx

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    1. You'd be more than welcome, Sally! xxx

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  30. Would love to join you - but being in Surrey think I am too far away. I think the wedding dress should have gone home with you, it would look great dyed pink or navy

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  31. Sounds like a fab day. I've got a blogger met at the end of April and I can't wait!
    I love both the little house on the prairie and the wedding dress on you, talk about made for you. But the gingham and cheesecloth is definitely a winner!

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    1. I can't wait to read about your meet-up, Hazel! x

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  32. Looks like you had a fabulous time, I'd be up for joining you guys. X

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  33. What fun! And such good buys! I'd love to spend a day with you, Curtise and Tania -- if only I could!

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  34. It was a truly wonderful day. I loved every short minute of it. It was so happy and felt so easy. Can't quite believe how much shopping we did. It only felt like there were about half a dozen shops. You looked so beautiful in all those dresses but I think you chose the right one to go home with. Blooming heck, those selfies!!! I might be a short-arse but I've got a head the size of a prize turnip!! :D :D so funny. Can't wait for our next get together. Xxxx

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    1. It was over far too soon, I think we need a weekender - staying in a 'Spoons hotel, obviously! It's usually my head that ends up enormous, I blame the camera angles! xxx

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  35. There are bag ladies, and there are bag ladies! Can't help smiling back at your brilliant smiles blooming with gorgeous red lipstick! What great fun -- and yes, that lurex maxi was made for Curtise!

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    1. Not only do we get on like a house on fire but we seem to bring each other luck when it comes to finding great vintage in charity shops! x

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  36. Uninhibited! Excellent label there and a lovely dress too. Looks like you all had fun rampaging through the chazzas and not forgetting - Wetherspoons too! xx

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  37. Do i know that ton is it the one that i have been told to keep quiet lol xxx

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    1. No, it's not that one! I'll message you....xxx

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  38. Sounds like an excellent day! What great finds you all had. I can understand why you'd want to keep this seemingly perfect location a secret!

    Congratulations on yours and Jon's 25 years of unmarried bliss. You make a great pair. xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Louise!! It was an excellent day, hard to think it was almost a whole week away, time flies! x

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  39. So nice to see you three dames together again. I would join you in a heartbeat if only the teleporter had been invented. 25 years together of unwedded bliss is definitely something to celebrate - I think you should have brought that wedding dress home just to scare the bejeezus out of Jon. Definitely a Grand Day Out (thanks to Wallace and Grommit).

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    1. Funnily enough Curtise suggested scaring Jon the same way! xxx

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  40. I'm up!!! Just cross the pond, not a biggie! :) So happy (every single time!) to see your blogging meet-up reports - just look at your adorable happy and giggle faces! You must do Instagram with faces like these! :)

    Happy Unwedded Bliss Anniversary to you and Jon! Lots of love and happiness and of course charity shopping!

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    1. Wouldn't that be fabulous? It's so frustrating that so many of us are separated by oceans! xxx

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  41. When you, Curtise and Tania get together you have the best time out. Nothing beats a get together with some good mates!!

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    1. You'd know all about that, Sue! You're the queen of blogger get togethers. xxx

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  42. I'm just a tad envious of you bloggers who are able to meet up! (As I suggested to Anna - Anna's Island Anna - there should be a private bloggers' jet that we can zip around the world in! Any takers there????) A fabulous blog, Vix. xx

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  43. That looks like an awesome day out - I love the brown maxi Curtise is modelling. How lovely to see all of you together and having fun :-)

    If you fancy adding a Mim to your guest list, I'd love to come along - and I think I'm fatter than any of you, so there'd be no squabbling over finds!

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    1. We'd be absolutely thrilled to have you join us, Mim.
      There's never much squabbling, even after a few cheap pints in 'Spoons! xxx

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  44. Lovely Grey and I always have a hoot on our mini meets in London. Did you drink the Spoons dry of rum and coke....if not, why not? I am of course joking. I have to time my visits to Spoons carefully so I don't run into my 18yo. Don't want him cramping my style!
    Arilx

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    1. You won't believe this but I only drink rum and coke in the house, it doesn't taste the same in a pub (even Spoons!)
      Oh no! I used to have the same trouble when I was a teen, my Mum was always propping up the bar and getting chatted up by the lads, i didn't get a look in. xxx

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  45. Oh, you lot together again at last. I get this huge grin on my face when I see all of you out on the town and buying out the charity shops. Heh. Or at least having fun trying. Not having photos is always a good sign of a great time together with friends. Wonderful to see you. If I hadn't recently had a couple meetups myself, this would have definitely lit my fire - although you can never have too much of a good thing. Cheers!

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    1. Beer and shopping put paid to many photos but it gave us a great excuse to do it all over again very soon with added photos! xxx

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  46. Another fabulous time!! I saw a few pictures on Instagram and was immediately wishing desperately to join you!!! It is absolutely my idea of heaven, all of it. xoxoxo

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    1. ...and you joining us would be my idea of heaven! xxx

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  47. Sounds like a fun day! I can't believe how much amazing stuff you all found xx

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    1. It was getting ridiculous, I think we found something in every shop we visited! x

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  48. I am so glad you all met up! I've missed ogling over your amazing buys with Curtise and Tanya! You got some great items! I love the cheesecloth maxi! Genius!!
    You should have bought the wedding dress- you could dye it purple!!!x

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    1. If that wedding dress hadn't have been nylon (awful to dye) I'd have loved it in purple! x

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  49. Love the bodice on that gingham dress, very saucy! Shame the wedding dress was nylon, it would have looked super dyed.

    I've only met one blogger, the lovely Kezzie. I'd love to meet you and Jon one day xxx

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    1. I'd love to meet you one day, too. We've known each other virtually for years!
      Apparently gingham's "on trend" this summer. I'm glad I got to that dress before a hipster beat me to it. xxx

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix