Friday 23 March 2018

From Bed Covers & Babouches to Bollywood & Books - This Week's Charity Shop Finds


 I'm probably the only person in the world to create an outfit entirely around a bag but just look at that handsome Indian prince astride his horse.


We've been out and about stock hunting all week and the Black Country chazzas have been ransacked for super cool vintage gear to keep our rails topped up. Of course, it's inevitable that I'll find a few things that I need to keep - like this bag which cost me the princely (ha!) sum of £1.99


My poor hands are destroyed by all the gluing I've been doing lately, thank goodness for Barry M Nail Paint to detract from the damage. This colour, Cardamon, has been discontinued - why oh why do they keep doing that with colours I like? Luckily I found a replacement bottle in Age UK for 50p. The Indian bejewelled cuff was £4.50. Everything else, with the exception of the Lapis ring Dad bought me when I was 11, is from India.

Here's the massive 1970s pendant I was wearing in my last post. I suppose goat fish boy isn't everyone's cup of tea hence the reason why the lady in the charity shop gave it me for free.


Here's the vintage maxi skirt I was wearing in my last post. It's a bizarre thing, the green part is polyester and the floral trim is cotton. I found it on a sale rail for 50p. I wasn't sure if it was a keeper but the waist is a perfect fit and that strange contrasting hem makes me look really tall - a bonus when, like me, you're a short arse.


Don't adjust your screens - knitwear-phobic Vix bought knitwear!!! I'm sick to death of being cold and I was pleasantly surprised at how these two looked when I tried them on. Isn't it funny how much more attractive things seem when the charity shop reduces all their stock to £1?


They're not old - the acid green mohair cardi is from Miss Selfridge and the daisy print, Scandi-style sweater is by Henry Holland, but at least I'm prepared for our next visit from the Beast from the East, due to hit the UK during the Easter weekend. 


I loved the colour of these £1 Moroccan babouches and was super excited when I discovered that they were my size. They're unworn so I'm assuming they were given to someone as a coming home from holiday gift and they didn't fit.


How much do Jon & I love this brilliant bed cover? We're dazzled by it! It's got an emerald green fringed trim which I omitted to photograph. It was labelled Brand New which made us laugh. Yes, it was unused but we don't think it's been new for at least forty years! It was £10 which we thought was a bargain.


Did your Mum/Grandma one of these fold out shoppers? Both of mine did. This psychedelic beauty fits in my coat pocket and will be perfect for an impromptu charity shop purchase. Cost? 50p


I loved the embroidery on this £2 contemporary satin wrap. While both pieces of knitwear are a UK Size 6, this is a UK size 16. It just goes to show that modern size labels make no sense whatsoever.


I buy a pile of paperbacks most weeks (and subsequently donate a pile back).
Being a massive fan of espionage novels, William Boyd is one of my favourite authors and I was thrilled to find a book by him that I hadn't read. I love contemporary Indian fiction so I'm looking forward to devouring Graffiti My Soul. An Auctioneer's Lot are the memoirs of BBC's Bargain Hunt & Antique Road Trip expert, grumpy Phil Serrell. I always see Jodi Picoult books in charity shops which is hardly surprising as she's one of the UK's best selling authors. I mistakenly assumed she wrote chick-lit - which I detest - so I've never bothered buying any of her books but I came across both My Sister's Keeper & Small Great Things on my e reader and really enjoyed them. While her work isn't high brow but the subjects are thought-provoking and the endings are never predictable.


I've travelled the Bombay to Goa road many times over the last 20 years and I absolutely love this film from 1972. The songs are brilliant, the characters hilarious and Amitabh Bachchan's psychedelic wardrobe is to die for. Female lead, Aruna Irani, is so beautiful. This 99p DVD will be Sunday afternoon's entertainment.


How could I write a blog post without mentioning my doll's house? My friend Tina spotted these upholstery fabric samples from high end Spanish interiors company Gaston y Daniela when we were out charity shopping yesterday and suggested they'd make great rugs. How right she was! Full-sized it retails at £100 a metre, I paid £1 for a fifth of a metre. 

WEARING: 1960s Wetherall of Bond Street cape (£4.95, YMCA charity shop, 2006), River Island boots, Floppy felt hat, vintage tooled leather belt, 1960s Stainless steel choker, Indian Prince bag, vintage floral maxi skirt, fringed bodysuit (all charity shopped, eBayed or car-booted)

Have a fabulous weekend!

See you soon.

Linking to Patti & the gang for Visible Monday and Judith, The Style Crone, Hat Attack #57.

70 comments:

  1. Ohh i love that purple satin wrap with the embroidery , I've started to use the library more for books although my local libraries rushall and pelsall have closed down i am using Aldridge now ,I have to have jumpers the more the merrier for the market , I am really fed up with the cold , Surely this last lot for us will be the last xxx

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    1. I love the idea of the library but I never know what I'm going to fancy reading next so books I like the look of can sit on the to read pile for months. When I used to be a member of the library I'd often get loads out and only finish a couple having been distracted by books I'd found in chazzas! xxx

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  2. I'm always glad to see one of you hauls, as it makes me feel less guilty about mine! Love the bag, the jumpers and the satin wrap, and how brilliant is that bed cover! Could it be that the floral hem was added to the skirt later? I've got one or two things like that. I was sure I had some Jodi Picoult novels, but as I cannot locate them, it's probably that I've been seeing so many of her books in the chazzas. Those samples will make the most fabulous rugs! xxx

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    1. Never feel guilty about a haul of goodies - charity shopping makes the world go round!
      The hem's definitely original to the skirt. I remember having a polyester top and skirt with a contrasting cotton frilled trim for the junior school leaver disco back in 1978! xxx

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  3. Your rings are gorgeous, I love them all.
    I find if there's ever a cosmetic product I love, it gets discontinued. I really like the colour you're wearing shame it's no longer available.
    A load of books and a good film sounds like a lovely relaxing weekend, I hope you enjoy it. xxx

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    1. Thanks, Sally!
      It drives me daft when products I like get discontinued. Barry M did an amazing matt lip gloss last year - I ended up buying four of them just in case! xxx

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  4. Your Indian video looks good, yes, we need those woollies out, the snow is coming back over Easter. I haave never read Jodi Picoult, maybe I should :)

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    1. No sign of the white stuff yet - but it's so cold!!!

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  5. You look gorgeous in your purple cape and boots and I simply adore your wonderful jewellery. Your Dad had very good taste; I love the lapis lazuli ring. I can't see the boy in the goatfishboy pendant; I need to come back and look again as I can only see the goat and the fish!

    Lovely bargains; the babouches are such a lovely colour. Will you wear them as shoes or are they only suitable for indoor wear as slippers or house shoes? I'm not a fan of jumpers at all but I do like cardigans! I love both your items of knit wear and if they were only a 1.00 each that's even better! The Indian Prince bag is brilliant.

    I can't wait to see the rugs in situ...

    Hope you have a great weekend!
    xxxx

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    1. My Dad rarely spent any money but the odd thing he bought - like the Bitossi cat who sits on our mantelpiece really were things of beauty!
      The babouches have a really good rubber sole so perfect for popping out to feed the birds in the morning or taking the bin out but me and slip on shoes, that's just asking for another hip replacement! xxx

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  6. love the green sweater. Sizes in the US are also crazy. My clothes run from 14 to 24!I just buy what fits nice.

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    1. Same here - makes no sense to worry about a number on a label, nobody sees it anyway! xxx

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  7. You are looking just as smashing as ever. This might be one of my favourite outfits of yours. The magenta is stunning.

    What a score on that amazing handbag!

    It must be fun collection items for your doll house.

    Today I spent some time doing some real life redecorating despite having the flu. Around this time of the year I always want to redo every room in my house. Spring decorating fever I guess.

    Have a great weekend!

    Suzanne

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne. I always feel like I've got superpowers when I wear that cape (a bit like you and your catsuit!)
      Decorating with the flu? You're hardcore! We're cracking on with some this weekend, the light at this time of year seems to make everything look gloomy and tired (including me!) xxx

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  8. You couldn’t be more cooler than if I’d dreamed you up inthe best most creative dream of my life. Love, love, love, your stuff.

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  9. What fabulous finds! I especially love the bedspread. I think the goat fish boy pendant is the symbol for Capricorn.
    I've noticed the same thing with Barry M, their options seem to be getting bland! I've moved on to Essence from Wilko which are a lot better than you'd imagine from looking at their display!

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    1. I thought goat fish boy might have been one of those 70s birth sign pendants but i didn't understand the fish tail.
      I'll have a look at that Essence brand, I've seen it in Wilko. I'm sad that Barry M seems to be going down the fashion route rather than sticking to their traditional bright colours. xxx

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  10. Hi Vix, I love your outfit and the satin robe- how gorgeous! I read a lot too and always borrow books from my local library. Do you have a library near you? It might save you from buying and returning a big pile of books every week. Because I love reading, I borrow from the library, and if I really like a book and want to reread it, then I'll buy it. I'd love to see pictures of your book collections, and what you choose to keep (rather than donate back to the charity shops). Xxx

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    1. Thanks, Jess! We do have a library in town but I struggle with being under pressure to read books within a certain timescale. Our charity shops often have five books for £1. I very rarely keep books once I've finished them, it's good chazza shop karma to donate them back, isn't it? xxx

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  11. I recall quite a few "bizarre" polyester & nylon garments trimmed in odd bits of calico & madras in the 70's. Usually accompanied by copious use of brightly colored rickrack.

    I find size labels to be so often misleading I shop with a tape measure around my neck!

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    1. I do, too - my Mum often used to dress me in them! xxx

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  12. this beauty of a bag is really worth creating an outfit around! and you made a totally gorgeous outfit!
    congrats to the woolies - they will come in good use - if not for easter then for that one rainsoaked, windblown festival.....
    i imagine what will make that bedcover with one who comes to bed drunken - haha!
    chick-lit - have to bookmark this - i detest this genre too - lucky to find a sister in mind. will we see stills from that movie?
    hooray for spanish designer rugs for the dollhouse!
    much love! xxxxx

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    1. You're right, I often have to borrow the stock at festivals, the British countryside is as cold as winter at night!
      That bedspread is mad. No wonder the previous owner never used it! xxx

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  13. Amazing shoes, love the colour... I wish somebody would make funky shoppers now, they are sooo twee! The one you found is ace

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    1. Thank you! Someone ought to start making those shoppers again, I love how they fold into a purse! xxx

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  14. Besutiful choices as ever. Love your lapiz ring!

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    1. Thanks, Shelagh! My Dad had good taste! xxx

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  15. Another week of great finds! Love your new hand bag. Definitely that would make a funky doll house rug - really great patten.

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  16. Didn't you do well? I love that Miss Selfridge cardi, I actually like their knitwear as they have some funky styles and aren't afraid to put faux fur collars on and such. Not that I've shopped there in about 10 years! I agree about sizing being really weird sometimes (is that why it ends up in the charity shops?), I too have such a massive range of sizes in my wardrobe. Some stuff must get mislabelled.

    I suddenly feel the need to go charity shopping after reading this...
    xx

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    1. Whatever happened to Miss Selfridge? there used to be a branch everywhere (even Walsall!) xxx

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  17. Fabulous haul of goodies this week. I’ve got a few of those fold up shoppers, they are brilliant for charity shop shopping, which we did today for the first time in a while. I picked up two jackets for £10. One of them is a tweed made in the UK with a great belt and peplum feature on the back.
    I’m badly in need of a destash though as some of it I don’t want to wear anymore. I’ve probably got more stuff than you’ve got stock haha xxx

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    1. Your tweed jacket sounds like a smasher! We need to see that soon! xxx

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  18. Your rings are massive! How do you bend your fingers? The (grr) discontinued nail polish matches perfectly.
    I am inspired to watch that movie. We love Indian movies.
    I love your cape and those jumpers. Especially the neon mohair...they should keep you warm with colour alone!
    Stay snuggly this weekend my dear.
    xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. I've worn rings that big for forty years - there's a kniack, I think. I feel naked without a bastard massive adornment! xxx

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  19. I hoard those vinyl shoppers as they're getting scarce. My grandmothers were also fond of them. I'm now old enough to be a granny, so maybe it all makes sense;)
    If you have to wear jumpers you picked some really nice ones. The yellow cardigan looks well made.
    "Brand new." That's indeed funny. Have great weekend.

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    1. I love those vinyl shoppers, I haven't seen such a psychedelic one in years! xxx

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  20. I've not seen one of those shoppers for years but remember my mother having one.
    Love that acid green cardigan.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. I can look dress for Spring (even if it doesn't feel like it) in that acid green cardi! xxx

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  21. The bedspread is insane, I love it!
    I used to go to Cairo often and bought a pair of similar babouches although mine didn't have lovely tassels...I wonder what happened to them? Xx

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    1. Isn't it wild?
      Those babouches aren't still under the bed, are they?! xxx

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  22. oOOooh, I like your skirt with the trim!
    HAHAHHAHAHA, knitwear, knitwear (I feel like I am saying Cooties or something like that!)

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    1. Knitwear and me is like you and mushrooms! xxx

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  23. P.S. I will look out for the Barry M for you in case I see any!

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  24. so lovely that you created an outfit around your bag!, mwahaha, that's so cool!, and I love it!. You look gorgeous in your cape and fabulous skirt!
    I'm glad that you got those knitwear to keep you warm (in style!). Spring is not coming as soon as we would like!
    Love those babouches, and the beautiful bed cover!. And I'm taking notes on books you've enjoyed, as I'm a public library heavy user and they'll probably have all those authors.
    Hurrah for those fabric samples to make rugs to your dolls' house, that's brilliant!
    besos

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    1. I'm not usually a bag person unless I find one with a killer print - the prince needed to be taken out straightaway! xxx

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  25. Wow, that's a haul! Love the Capricorn pendant, those upholstery samples look interesting and why on earth did Barry M discontinue that fabulous nail varnish!! How cute is that jumper too, never had you down as a short-arse like me Vix, you look tall! xxx

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    1. I fool a lot of people - big hair and platforms are the secret of my success! x

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  26. Fabulous finds! I love the purple cape. I wonder if that skirt is an underpinning from a shorter dress? I see pieces like that at the thrifts sometimes. Thanks for the rec on Jodi Picoult - I've seen her books in the thrifts and also thought they were "chick-lit."

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    1. I think the skirt was designed like that, it's overlocked and everything. 1970s fashion often makes no sense, I think that's why I love it! xxx

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  27. I think you look so elegant in your cape Vix-I fancy getting one now x

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  28. You'll be warm in those sweaters and I love all the jewelry!! Cool rugs for the dollhouse!!

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  29. You've found some great things there - I love the bedspread.

    I hate winter; nice woollies are the only acceptable thing about the cold. I'm going to be seriously unimpressed if we get another cold blast over Easter.

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    1. The cats took a while to get used to the bedspread.
      I'm so fed up with this weather - we've had incessant rain for the last twenty four hours, the avenue is so badly flooded I think we'll be needing an ark soon! xx

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  30. That acid green cardy is a thing of beauty, and even though you don't wear woolens, it's very you!
    xx

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  31. The bag is a beauty , worthy of centre stage in your outfit and that cape is also quite a scene stealer. Books of any sort are the main thing I seem to find in our charity shops. Hope Spring arrives soon and you can pack the knits away. xx

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    1. Thanks, Jill! It's still very much knitwear weather this weekend, we've even got more snow threatened! xxx

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  32. I've missed your posts, Vix. Was indisposed with a flu for a while. So now am trying to catch up now on the ones from the India trip. But always love seeing the interesting goodies you unearth from your shopping sprees. Creating an outfit around that fabulous bag was the right thing to do. Love the purple cape and matching boots! So much cool vintage eye candy here, the jewelry, bedspread, etc, etc.

    Theresa

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    1. Hope you're feeling loads better now, Theresa. xxx

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  33. That Indian prince looks very handsome indeed. I find the idea of creating an outfit around a bag charming....and I love the outfit you have created with this bag as an inspiration...it's colourful, beautiful and so you!

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    1. Thanks, Ivana! I love the print on that bag! xxx

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  34. It MUST be cold if Vix is buying sweaters! I really like both of those (especially the acid green one), and that magnificent bedspread!!! You obviously just draw the good charity shop finds to you like a magnet.

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  35. This gorgeous purse caught my eye immediately when I first saw it on your IG! You built a fantastic outfit around it. Lovely sweaters, and such a beautiful bed cover! Hope your weather improved by now! <3

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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