Buy Buy Baby - My Latest Secondhand Finds

Well, the least said about the past week the better. Our vintage fair got postponed, our big Saturday nigh out was shelved and to top it all off, when Jon finally managed to get out this morning, part of the van's undercarriage dropped off. Looks like next week will be mainly spent hunting for a new-to-us work vehicle. Thank goodness we've got no vintage fairs booked until the 17th and 18th March.

I did use my enforced imprisonment wisely by mastering treble crochet, blitzing the mending pile and getting creative with some lacklustre vintage gear. The chiffon blouse I'm wearing beneath this psych maxi used to be a dress but the skirt hung badly and was full of holes (well, it did only cost me £1). In a flash of inspiration I unpicked & removed the skirt, replaced the zip with a shorter one and threaded elastic through the bottom before hemming it. I wasn't 100% struck on the shape of this dress before but with added kitten smuggling sleeves I love it.

I've had a massive wardrobe clear-out this weekend, too. Four waistcoats, five skirts, two catsuits, five scarves and fourteen maxi dresses have now been added to the Kinky rails and I've sold a pair of boots on eBay, making room for my latest secondhand finds.

I spotted this lilies-on-LSD maxi skirt listed as a Buy-It-Now on Ebay for £12. I didn't have to think about it for long, I've never seen a more outlandish floral print. Like most of the West German-made vintage clothing I come across, the quality is superb and it's fully lined.

As always, when I'm trawling eBay, I always look at what else the seller has got listed. The person selling the skirt had this vintage waistcoat, described as a child's, and priced at a mere £5. I checked the measurements and it sounded like it would fit me - and it did - the joys of being a short arse. It's velvet, cotton lined and hand embroidered on both the front and the back. I saw a girl wearing something almost identical on Instagram which she'd described as Hungarian but I'm pretty sure this is Indian.

You don't know how excited I was when Jon spotted this denim waistcoat for £1.49 in a charity shop last week. It's identical to the beloved travel companion I've tried (and failed) for years to find a replacement. I'm wearing the original here in a crumbling old lodging house in downtown Madras on my 40th birthday back in 2006.

Now I can finally lay my 20 year old faithful friend to rest.

You saw my quilted maxi skirt on last Monday's blog post. Here it is without me in it. 

When I spotted this crazy 1960s showgirl costume on eBay I was convinced I'd be outbid - I mean, who in their right mind wouldn't want a marabou feather trim, backless, bell-bottomed catsuit? I was amazed when I won it for £2.20. It's from a long defunct Italian costumier and the previous dancer's names are written on the inside. The colour looks a bit off in the picture above, below is a more accurate representation.

From showgirl to demure country girl. An unworn Dollyrockers gauzy cotton maxi dress for £4.99? Don't mind if I do. 

Our Banardos £1.99 clearance shop is usually pretty dreadful although it does throw up the occasional gem (a Jean Varon maxi and a 1930s crepe evening gown both spring to mind). This metallic gold and black Crimplene maxi skirt is a perfect fit and very Biba-esque. With the temperatures as ridiculously low as they have been I'm so pleased I'm not a fabric snob - synthetics rock when it's bastard freezing!

This rainbow stripe maxi dress is an utter pig to photograph. It's last year's French Connection so not in the least bit vintage. If we go on a European trip this year I'm picturing it with the metallic leather chappals I bought in Mumbai and a heap of silver tribal jewellery - or maybe a long sleeved top with voluminous sleeves, a floppy felt hat and some ankle boots if I'm too impatient to wait. It was £4.99 and the quality stood out a mile from the rest of the limp viscose offerings on the rail.

I always say that if you wait long enough then the thing you want will always turn up in a charity shop. On Tuesday, these beauties caught my eye amongst the usual depressing charity shop suspects from the likes of New Look & Primarni. Yes, some handmade and unworn Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots. I've waited 8 years for a pair. How lucky that they were both my size and well within budget (£3 as opposed to £120!) 

I do love a vintage tooled leather belt - at £1.99 I had to add it to my collection.

This vintage Indian silk scarf was in the 3 for a £1 basket. 

I do love a tacky beaded bag - Jon spotted this one for £1. It might be from Jerusalem but it'll forever remind me of the camels we saw in Gujarat.

Linking to Patti and the gang for Visible Monday

WEARING:  Remade vintage chiffon balloon sleeved top worn with 1970s psych print maxi dress (eBay, £5.50), Lamani tribal coin necklace (India), Vintage French-made high heeled wellies (Jumble sale)

See you soon!