Monday 30 April 2018

On The Road Again - The Classic Car Boot Sale,King's Cross, London



We made it, but only just! On Friday Jon took Gilbert to fill up with fuel only to break down and have to call the RAC out to tow him back home. The problem was a dodgy fuel pump but, as luck would have it, Jon had a spare in the shed and was able to replace it (no mean feat in Friday's torrential rain) so Gilbert lived to see another Classic Car Boot Sale.


Gilbert's an air cooled bus which, to the uninitiated, means that he has no heating. We left home at 3.30am and with temperatures well below the seasonal average, we progressively added more and more layers during the duration of our three hour journey. By the time we reached King's Cross we were wrapped up like Egyptian mummies. 

Jon's wearing: 1960s leather car coat, black skinnies & brogue boots (all charity shopped)

The minute we pulled into our allocated trading space, despite the Met Office promising us a dry day, the heavens opened. Thank goodness we were prepared with waterproof matting, a Lidl overhead shelter and a heap of tarpaulin sheets from Poundland. We set up our pitch, took a seat in Gilbert and enjoyed tea and crumpets before the gates opened to the public at 10am.

I'm wearing: Vintage pleated maxi dress, fake fur trimmed maxi coat, 1970s platform boots and a 1960s felt hat (all charity shopped)

Despite the atrocious weather business was brisk. Other than nip to the loo neither of us left the stall all day, selling vintage clobber to people from as far afield as Finland, Greece, Japan, Korea, Spain, Germany, Malta, Sweden, Canada, the USA and Australia. 

Photo courtesy of The Classic Car Boot Sale's IG page

Friends & neighbours' pitch, Suzy Loves Milo Boutique (photo pinched from their IG page)


Photo courtesy of Suzy Loves Milo

When the gates closed at 6pm we locked everything away in Gilbert and joined mates Suzy & Rob and Teddy, their cute terrier*, for a brisk walk and a Greek dinner in a sweet little taverna in Bloomsbury.

*The Classic Car Boot Sale is dog-friendly. 


By 9pm we were done in, we said our goodbyes and made the short walk to our accommodation for the night, The County. At £67 (including breakfast) we were surprised to discover that our budget room was in fact in a rather lovely Art Deco era hotel complete with stylish mid-century furnishings - check out that snazzy carpet and the rocket lamp. Not that we spent much time admiring it, we were in bed for 9.30!
Photo courtesy of Classic Car Boot Sale

After a leisurely breakfast we checked out and walked back in King's Cross for the second day of trading. 

Jon's wearing: Vintage 1960s three button tweed blazer, black skinny jeans, brogue boots (all charity shopped)

No rain but goodness me, it was bastard cold.

I'm wearing: Vintage 1960s Sportaville, London psychedelic catsuit & suede coat (both Second To None, Walsall); Felt hat (charity shop); Electric blue boots (retail, sale!)

It didn't take long to set up so Lyndsey Boomerang (pitch below) and I went for a wander before the gates opened at 10am.

Photo courtesy of Boomerang Vintage's IG page




Our friend Paula at Mint Vintage makes these earrings, aren't they fab?


To be honest with you, I was so cold I couldn't think straight. I failed miserably on the photo front and even passed up a gorgeous 1970s suede shoulder bag for £5 - by the time I'd regained my senses it had sold (although I did buy the maxi of my dreams, thanks to my amazingly eagle-eyed friends, Jo & Drew from Retro Bambi).


 By the time I'd got back to the pitch we'd opened to the public and Jon had already sold a pile of stuff. We'd done really well sales-wise on Saturday and I'd resigned myself to Sunday being a slow day. It was for a lot of traders but, for us, it was brilliant. It was really sweet to see some of the customers who'd bought from us last year as well as people we'd met the previous day and had come back with friends to introduce them to us and our stock. 


The rain had addled my brain on Saturday and I never got a photo of gorgeous Style Sixties Sarah but I managed to get a picture of my friends Michelle and Fay, who were meeting up for the first time after becoming Instagram friends. How cold do we look?


At 6pm we packed up, said our goodbyes and started the three hour journey back home to Walsall only to break down 15 minutes from home. Thankfully Jon's a mechanical whizz (you have to be if you drive a classic car) and by torchlight he found the loose connection and we limped home, greeted the cats and collapsed into bed with all our clothes on wondering if we'd ever be warm again!

What I came home with! The sleeve of dreams from my latest new old dress and some doll's house donations from my friends
It was a fantastic weekend but now we're absolutely ruined. We've managed to get into town to bank the cash, unpacked the van and put what's left back in the Kinky shed. The plan for tonight is a delivery pizza and a bottle of rum. Normal service will be resumed shortly.

PS Linking to Patti & the gang for Visible Monday and Judith, The Style Crone, Hat Attack #58.


69 comments:

  1. Its sounds like apart from the weather you had a fantastic trading day , My mom used to have that lamp in orange and i hated it at the time , I am not surprised that you were busy and others not you sell quality vintage and some people just sell vintage weather its unique or not and overprice it , Your stuff is value for money , Quality always sells , I can have good days on the market too when others don't because i sell quality items although not vintage xxx

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    1. Thank you so much! There were vast differences in prices. No "London" prices on our stall, we keep them the same wherever we trade. xxx

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  2. Better you than me! Brrrrr. You always manage to like fabulous no matter how many layers!
    Myz

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    1. Thank you! It was definitely a feat of endurance surviving those temperatures! x

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  3. It was cold on Sunday wasn’t it, brrr! We went to see Meirionwen and it was icy cold, I ended up sat in the other car all but hugging the car heater! This looks like a super event, but I must admit I’m wary of taking Meirionwen to places where there are lots of people with bags and carrying paraphernalia as I couldn’t bare it if she got scratched and I’m not overkeen on the idea of wannabe pinups leaning on her 😶 xxx

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    1. Awww, you really ought to take her. Everyone's really respectful towards the vehicles and all the traders (and a lot of the visitors) dress up, too. The next one's 18th & 19th August and if you're just bringing a car, it's completely free. xxx

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  4. Ugh, car breakdowns in the rain and cold, I would rather be inside a roasty warm building painting and fixing. You two look fabulous as usual. Love the purple vibe and the massive sleeves on that dress!

    Hope you had a chance you to catch up on sleep. Nothing is nicer than napping with cats!

    Happy thrifting ;)

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    1. Thank you! It takes a certain kind of person to be a market trader, it ain't for the feint hearted in this country! xxx

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  5. Squeee! Looks like it was a lot of fun! Love those tassel earrings! xox

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    1. It's a brilliant day out. I loved those earrings, too. Paula makes them herself! xxx

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  6. I'm glad to hear sales were good not that it makes up for car trouble and bad weather. The sleeves on that maxi though...maybe worth the suffering?

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    1. Those whopping great sleeves were definitely compensation for the weather. xxx

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  7. Enjoy the pizza and rum, you've earned it! That event looks like great fun.

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    1. We did! You would love it, so many well dressed people and a huge range of vintage. xxx

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  8. wonderful to hear that the sales went very well!! but i feel with you about the cold weather...... that market looks very busy and atmospheric. i cant wait to see the new maxi worn by you!
    get well soon to gilbert - and is this a beard in jons face? ;-)
    xxxxx

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    1. We were really happy with sales this time, sure made up for the weather!
      Jon knew how cold it was going to be and grew an emergency beard to protect himself. It's gone now! xxx

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  9. As soon as I got home on Saturday I was like - I didn't get a photo with Vix! We'll have to get one next time I see you. Glad business was brisk on Sunday and I hope you've warmed up now xx

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    1. Aren't we daft, too much talking and no camera action. Next time we'll get our act together. I think we're back in August! xxx

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  10. So glad you got the maxi with the angel sleeves!! U met up with V!!!! Jon so good with the car issues---y'all are such a great team <3

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    1. V's lovely, it's the second time we've met. I'm hoping to go down to London and meet her and Fay, it would be wonderful to spend some proper time with them! xxx

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  11. The rain, the cold - you're both made of strong stuff! So glad you had a good sales trip and all the fun besides, xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. Thanks, Patti! It was a great weekend despite the cold. Hopefully August will be a bit warmer (although this is the UK!) xxx

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  12. Cool cars, cool clothes and cool collectibles. Looks like lots of fun!

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    1. Your motor would look right at home! xxx

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  13. It sounds like it was great despite the weather and lucrative too!
    I'm impressed with Jon's skill with repairing Gilbert, you both deserve your pizza and rum and I hope you're both having a lovely, cosy, warm evening. xxx

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    1. I think it took a couple of days before I felt my feet again!
      The joy of a vintage car is that they're pretty easy to fix and there's always a YouTube tutorial to help! xxx

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  14. pretty sure your gorgeous new maxi dress is a David Silverman. Like you, I love a big sleeve (&, yes, I'm finally commenting here & not just IG).

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    1. Mieke! Lovely to see you over here! That dress does look like a David Silverman - I've owned something almost identical but mine was handmade by the lady who sold it to me's mother! I think I've even got the pattern in my stash! xxx

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  15. I'm delighted you had a good show despite the crap weather and vehicle difficulties. You know you're a true vintage seller when...

    Can't wait to see the new maxi on you.

    Suzanne

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    1. Thank you so much! It was fantastic trade-wise which was amazing considering the weather! xxx

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  16. So pleased to hear that selling was brisk despite the torrid weather conditions. It looks a fabulous event for both buyer and seller. Look forward to you in that new dress , the best sleeves ever. I had to laugh at your comment about Jon being a mechanical wiz and classic cars - sounds so familiar- mine is working on his MG gearbox. Hope you are thawed our, cheers, Jill. xx

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    1. Thanks, Jill! A lot of tourists arrange their trip to the Uk to coincide with the Classic Car Boot, it really is an amazing - and typically British - event.
      The joys of classic car ownership, eh? Jon's always got his head in a motor! xxx

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  17. What a great weekend! Sounds like you did very well in spite of the rain - I would love that boot sale, sigh. Ooh, that dress - the SLEEVES are major!

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    1. I needed those sleeves in my life, didn't I?
      I cannot bang on enough about what a great event it is and £5 for a day out in London's pretty good value! xxx

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  18. Poor Gilbert and hooray for Jon! The weather this past weekend has been Baltic, I lit the fire and piled on the woolies. My 2CV's were air-cooled do I know how cold that journey to London must have been. Glad to hear you did well. Xx

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    1. Gah! It was flipping freezing! Air cooled cars, the only vehicles to get colder the longer the journey.My heart sunk when Gilbert conked out 15 minutes from home. Jon's such a hero! xxx

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  19. Jon is my new hero of the week, what a star he is being able to fix Gilbert in a crisis.
    I’m not surprised you were busy, your pitch always looks fantastic and the fact that you have such passion for your trade shines through. Well done lovelies xxx

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    1. He's a good 'un, isn't he? He's learnt so much about mechanics since we owned Gilbert he could probably get a job in a garage! xxx

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  20. Look at those sleeves!
    Lovely that you had a good weekend, despite rain and low temperatures. The weather really needs to sort itself out now...
    xx

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    1. My quest for massive sleeves is never ending!
      It was a fab weekend but isn't it typical that the weather had to misbehave? If had been the weekend before or this coming one it would have been a lot easier to cope with! xxx

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  21. It's been bastardly cold here too, just our luck as we had a weekend away. Had to dig out one of my Winter coats. We were walking a lot, which made it ok, but you must have been absolutely freezing at your stall! And then having problems with Gilbert on top! Poor you! It's a good thing you did a great trade to make up for things. Loving your new maxi! xxx

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    1. I'm so glad I wasn't tempted to do the wardrobe switch over when we had those few nice days - I'm finally learning after over half a century on this planet!!
      Hope you've got the same weather as us forecast for Sunday and Monday, I'm keeping everything crossed that the BBC have got it right! xxx

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  22. Poor old Gilbert, but well done to Jon. Glad you did such good business! I'm so far behind with my blog reading. xx

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    1. I know! Gilbert's a naughty boy! xxx

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  23. Hey Vix,
    I love your orange coat, you look like you stepped right out of Almost Famous (I love that movie!)
    All these years I've been reading your blog and calling you Vix but I've just realised....is Vix short for Vicky? Or have I been assuming that? What's your preferred name? Xxx

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    1. Thank you so much, Jess! That coat gets lots of love!
      I'm actually Victoria but I'm either Vix or Vicky (or even retro lady!) I'll answer to anything! xxx

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  24. A day that begins at 3:00, ends at midnight, and features two (2!) breakdowns would leave me more than "ruined" -- although there was one occasion when I flopped onto the sofa fully clothed and awakened with the keys still in hand.
    You're radiant in that blue faux-fur trimmed maxi, Vix; and Jon is GQ handsome in that coat with skinnies and brogues (and beard!).

    Those wonderful gloves displayed on the vintage suitcase remind me of tulip colors. Having wrecked my nails on recent projects, I'm now wondering if I could persuade you to start a fad for gloves...

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    1. We certainly worked for our money, Beth!! Jon's beard's all gone now, he grew it especially but it the itching was driving him mad.
      I love those dainty rainbow coloured gloves, I'm surprised it's always the navy and white ones that people choose to buy instead of canary yellow or Barbie pink. There's nowt as queer as folk! xxx

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  25. Oh my goodness what shite weekend weather it was. I'd put my winter clothes away during our mini heatwave - what a twat I am!

    I absolutely love the look of this sale and I must put it in my calendar for next year. You and John look fabulous - you're both such wonderful adverts for your
    own stock.

    I'm astonished at how reasonable the hotel was - for London! Even Travel Lodge is more expensive than that.

    The new dress looks absolutely glorious!
    xxxxx

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    1. Oh, so it's your fault, is it? I'm glad I only ferreted one of my strappy halterneck maxis out of the summer suitcase, it's been vests at dawn ever since those four glorious days a fortnight ago!
      We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the hotel especially with breakfast included (which was really good!) xxx

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  26. oh my. But you guys do so well, even with unplanned adventures. Of course, I'm saying it after the fact and from afar. Thank goodness your sales were as fabulous as your wares. And Jon's got a beard going?! Nice. You both looked great in your layers of vintage.

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    1. Thanks, Pao! The weekend weather was a challenge but the sales were ace. We're already booked up for the next one. xxx

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  27. Thank you so much, Audra! It's lovely to see you over here! I love purple, too - much as I don't l;ike the cold that coat makes it a lot more bearable!!! xxx

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  28. What a weekend!! I loved seeing the photo of you and Michelle (a.k.a. V.) on Instagram - sometimes it's hard to believe you two are real! I don't see such stylish ladies here, must visit England ASAP!

    Much love! <3

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    1. Oh please come to England! Its funny, I never think the women I follow are real either until I meet them in real life, it's so exciting when the look exactly the same as the pictures! xxx

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  29. So glad to have got to see you. We look absolutely freezing!! I can't wait to see what you do with that glorious green sleeves maxi and I can't wait to wear your old cloak coat!

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    1. It was fab to see you and Fay - so glad you found something you liked! Don't we look cold in that photo? Even worse for you having escaped to Oz for a few weeks previously! xxx

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  30. WOW.....that's a car boot and a half. It looks fantastic with all the old cars.
    I don't know how you managed being out in that cold...I probably would have cried and gone home.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. It's an unbelievable event - so many celebs go there (not that I'm that good at spotting them!) The weather was atrocious, so annoying when the previous weekend and the weekend that followed were so lovely! xxx

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  31. I am so far behind with blogging so missed the fact that you would be down at King's Cross. I was gutted not to have more time for a wander last year so would have been down like a shot. It was bloody freezing and you seemed to have a time of it car-wise. Glad that trade was good to make up for it. You and Jon's outfits are fabulous. You guys work so hard. Xx

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    1. I think we're back in August, I'll give you plenty of notice if we are, promise! xxx

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  32. It looks like you were dressed for February instead of the end of April! We've finally warmed up over here. I would have loved to take in that Car Boot sale; I bet I would have found loads of good stuff.

    Thank goodness Jon is such a whiz at repairing Gilbert!

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    1. God, was it cold? It took the best part of a week to defrost! You would love it, so many cool people and so much amazing (and affordable) vintage gear.
      Jon could probably rebuild a VW engine if he had to - the joys of classic car ownership! xxx

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  33. I'm always happy to see your stall rocking in another fair!, you look so fabulous and I love particularly your purple coat, and that amazing jumpsuit!, it could be cold but you're like sunshine!! gorgeous!!
    besos

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    1. What a fair it was - I love meeting so many foreign tourists, it's like being on holiday! xxx

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  34. love the red suede coat, hope the successful trade on this trip is a sign of plenty more coming your way this year.

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    1. Thanks, Betty! That red suede coat has been the most worn item I own this winter! xxx

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  35. What a story! Nothing can stop you and Jon, including the most bitter cold. I'm beyond impressed. Your ensembles are gorgeous, as always. Thank you so much for sharing your headwear with Hat Attack!

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Lots of love, Vix