Friday 11 May 2018

The 99p Playsuit and Other Stories



You know I'm no fan of mass-produced, cheaply made clothes but, when I spotted this paisley print playsuit in the sale section of a popular fashion retailer's website for 99p I couldn't resist ordering it just to see if it was as cool as the photo. I was pleasantly surprised to discover when my order arrived that not only did it look like the garment on the model but it was made in the UK. 

WEARING: Cotton jersey playsuit with 1960s Tarantella of Walsall suede jerkin 

My main reason for wearing vintage clothes isn't to replicate a bygone era, it's to look different from everyone else. When you're wearing something every woman in Europe has access to then you've got to work extra hard to make damned sure that you won't look end up looking like a fashion clone.


There's zero chance I'll bump into anyone else wearing the same pair of 1960s exotic snakeskin boots by Gohil's (read the story of how I acquired them HERE).


I found this 1960s suede bag in the clearance charity shop for £1 but it'd been hanging in my wardrobe for months without a single outing. On Saturday morning I had a bit of a brainwave and decided to hand paint it to introduce a bit more colour. I like it a lot more now.

Other jewellery mostly from India. The turquoise and coral necklace was a gift from Sarah.

I did think the solid copper and turquoise pendant and cuff set that my Mum's childhood sweetheart brought her from a trip to Canada in the mid-1960s was pretty unique until I read ever-fabulous Sheila's blog the other day and discovered that she owned exactly the same pendant. The rose pink plastic 1970s sunglasses came from the car boot sale yesterday. I can't resist a daft pair of sunnies especially when they're 50p.


In the seven days since I last posted it's gone from Crimplene maxi and Welsh wool cape weather to days filled with cotton dresses, straw baskets and sandals (including the handmade suede boots below which I'd lusted over on Anjuna market for the best part of 20 years only to discover them in Goa's only charity shop for 200 rupees back in February). Up until yesterday I'd spent every afternoon since Saturday in a bikini on the lawn and read three books....bliss!


The glorious sunshine means that me and the cats have been out of bed before 6am every morning, we've (that's me and Jon, not me and the cats!) trawled countless car boot sales, raided our friends' house and toured the great chazzas of the wider Black Country acquiring so much stock that Jon's had to build Kinky Shed II to accommodate it all. The glorious weather means that I've been able to peg all my washing outside on the line to dry so not only do our rails look inviting , the stock on them smells divine.




Here are just a few of our latest finds. Interested? Come and see us at Vintage Village at Stockport on Sunday.


Here's my next project, a four storey Lundby (circa 1970 - 1972). A gloriously hot and sunny Bank Holiday weekend meant lots of bargains on Ebay and I managed to score some amazing vintage furniture which has been turning up with Izzy the postman in strangely shaped boxes all week. The ceilings are painted and my head is bursting with ideas. I can't wait to share when I complete each room.

See you soon!

PS If you're a Scandi Noir obsessive like us then don't forget the new series of The Bridge starts at 9pm tonight on BBC 2. If you've never seen it where have you been?

69 comments:

  1. I never thought of painting a purse-oh the possibilities that presents-thank you! Your new stock looks great-hope you return home from trading with an empty van. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It came to me in a flash of inspiration, no handbag will be safe now!

      Delete
  2. Feeling the weather today its hard to imagine you was sunbathing i was froze on the market this morning , That white maxi is divine xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet it was chilly on the market but hulking sacks of clothes around and wrestling clothes rails soon warmed me up! x

      Delete
  3. ...behind the 7 hills in the valley of the clueless ;-DDD
    (scandi noir is to dark for our nerves anyway...)
    hooray for jumpsuit season - i wore shorts already too. you look fabulous in that outfit, love the long vest over the short suit, the painted bag is a total winner und the snakeskin boots are to die for!!
    the dress look aren´t bad either!
    congrats to all the gorgeous stock!
    have fun with that skyscraper of a dollhouse!!
    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hooray for shorts weather - long may it last! xxx

      Delete
  4. Woo Hoo! I'm loving those yellow suede gladiator sandals with the blue toenail polish!
    Looking forward to that Lundby makeover!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yellow and blue - match made in heaven! x

      Delete
  5. Great new dollhouse!!!! Those snakeskin boots are incredible----absolutely amazing. Good deal on the cute playsuit!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! I nearly died of excitement when I was given them! xxx

      Delete
  6. You look like your ready for the festivals in your fabulous playsuit outfit.
    I’ve got my flipping tights and woollies back on again here it’s that cold. Let’s hope Sunday is a bit warmer for Stockport. Should be fun, we’re just missing Pat and Matthew to complete the gang xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That playsuit will be my stall building outfit, the hems on my maxis always end up wringing wet! Fab to see you both on Sunday although it wasn't the same without P&M round the corner! xxx

      Delete
  7. What amazing snakeskin boots and that is such a lovely thing for your old teacher to have done. Imagine being the same shoe size. They were made for you! Have to say that you are looking pretty damn fabulous in your playsuit. Pity that the weather has gone a bit dull but at least till warm. That Dollhouse is huge. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Jon will have to a Kinky Shed III to keep them all in. Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I couldn't believe they fitted me so well, she's a fabulous woman and our local Labour councillor, too!
      Jon's suggested a shed for the houses, I'm not having that! xxx

      Delete
  8. Only you would combine that playsuit with those amazing boots, suede jerkin and customized suede bag. No fear of running into someone wearing something even remotely similar! And what a find those handmade suede boots are! Speaking of finds: what a fabulous haul you've had for the Kinky rails. The people visiting Stockport Vintage Market will be quite spoiled. Can't wait to see your next doll's house makeover! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so excited about my new doll's house, my head's exploding with ideas! xxx

      Delete
  9. I don't mind blending into the crowd fashion wise, but I'd like the fun of more color, more flash every once in a while.

    ReplyDelete
  10. So much niceness!

    Love your play suit with the suede waistcoat and how fab you painted the handbag. What with? I'm so bloody nosy, I know! I loved the white maxi dress on you - very bridal! What a marvellous bit of serendipity finding the lusted after boots IN A CHAZZA - in Goa , of all places! You couldn't make it up.

    Fabulous finds for your stock.

    Only 19 minutes to go until The Bridge....

    Have a fab weekend!
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Bridge!!! I'm speechless!
      I painted the bag with Dylon fabric paint. I bought loads of jars of it from a car boot years ago and it's ace. No bag is safe now! xxx

      Delete
  11. I am a-tingle waiting to see what you do that doll's house! Though if the weather stays nice you won't want to be indoors crafting. What a fab array of new stock you have, I hope it sells well.

    I didn't know suede could be painted, does it need a special paint?? Never would have guessed your playsuit was non-vintage, you have so much else going on xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's been too nice to play dolls houses, hasn't it? I shouldn't complain though, I'm loving bikini weather! xxx

      Delete
  12. Those boots get me every time.

    I'm finding it harder to distinguish between modern day copies of vintage and authentic vintage lately. Sure, the fabric, closures and labels are usually a dead giveaway but when I'm trying to get through a store in under an hour it's taking me longer because I have to double check everything. I liked it better when it was easier to spot the authentic vintage. Now the stores are full of copies.

    I think I have that exact same brown day dress from the 70's in row 3.

    Swoon on that men's red leather jacket! I wonder if I could convince my husband to wear it. What's the size?

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is tricky - I'm often horrified to discover that something that caught my eye is Primark!!
      Is your day dress C&A? I love trading in Manchester as I often meet women who worked in the mills and can tell me the date the fabric was printed, so interesting!
      That jacket's a 40" chest. xxx

      Delete
  13. No I've never seen it!
    Those snakeskin boots are bloody gorgeous and the transformed suede bag was a brilliant find. You've topped up your tan nicely, the white maxi shows it off a treat! Another good week at the chazzas I see, hope you flog loads at Stockport. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've never seen it? I'm appalled. You need an epic catch-up on the I-Player. saga is the best! xxx

      Delete
  14. Fabulous bargains as always Vix - you're an inspiration. We're just getting in to The Bridge now - half way through series one - can't believe we've missed it til now ... Great stuff.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Flis! isn't The Bridge wonderful? I'm actually a bit envious that you've got all those episodes to watch! xxx

      Delete
  15. We don't watch tv so no The Bridge for us so far. Must look it up.
    I looove your paint job on the bag.
    Your legs are looking glorious in that sunsuit. Glad you are having some sunshine this year. I know it's not always a given.
    All the best with all that stock!
    xo Jazzy Jack

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'd like it - a wonderfully enigmatic female lead!
      I'm loving being able to bare a bit of flesh, I wasn't made for cold weather! xxx

      Delete
  16. your new doll house looks like every fixer upper show "before". I know you will not make it look tastefully boring. Those boots are amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! You're right! it's very drab and dated at the moment, isn't it? xxx

      Delete
  17. OMG I love you in the white frock, you look angelic!!! I imagine it is a load of fun trawling the second hand shops and other places you find your stock in, and your punters will be delighted with all the new things you two have found. Lying on the lawn reading sounds blissful, I would fall asleep for sure and be surrounded by my cats, dogs and chickens!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's me, a little angel! I was surprised when I saw myself in a shop mirror wearing that white dress, I didn't recognise myself! xxx

      Delete
  18. Great post Vix. I am guilty of wearing mass produced tat. The thing that bugs me the most about it is how the garment is produced, so if I buy more mass produced tat from a charity shop at least I'm giving it a bit more life. The sad thing is we don't keep stuff now. I remember looking at my mum's wardrobe as a kid thinking that the stuff she had from years before must have been really special because she kept and still wore it. Sadly my oldest item of clothing is a denim jacket I chazzed 10 years ago.Its great to see your posts because there's real history in these garments. Even the 99p playsuit tells us a lot about the times we live in! For me charity shopping is great because I wear so much more different stuff than I would sticking to the high Street and from shops I'd never normally try. It feels ever more like we're becoming clones

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for such a great comment! I'm with you on buying mass produced tat from the charity shop, at least the money's going to a good cause. I've got a fringed bodysuit from Primarni (via Age UK) now in it's fourth year - I've never set foot in a Primark, despite Walsall having a bastard massive one in the town centre - but I've no problem with the odd secondhand piece.
      You going through your Mum's wardrobe struck a cord, I used to love looking through my mum's and remembering her wearing certain items to school plays, on holiday or to birthday parties. My own wardrobe is pretty similar - it's handy having the blog, I often search through to see how long I've had a certain dress or the festivals/trips to India/days out I've worn it to. xxx

      Delete
  19. You look unique and fab. I love the painted bag and it looks great with the waistcoat.
    Those tiles along the wall by your boots are lovely, I do like a mix of tiles.
    You found so much stock, some really interesting looking pieces, you definitely have your eye in! The people of Stockport are going to be spoiled for choice. Hope it's a good day. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sally! I love Victorian encaustic tiles, I've had a lot of mine since I was a teenager. I've brought them inside recently as I'm scared of them being nicked! xxx

      Delete
  20. I just LOVE how you've painted the purse!! You look amazing in your new playsuit and green vest and snake boots!!! Visual expression is your strongest, that's why you feel this way, darling Vix! Personality-wise, I've always felt different from others, since I was a little child - it's a strong sens of self from within, so there is no way I would feel like everybody else even if I run into someone wearing the same dress (which hasn't happened yet). I would probably feel like I met a sister in style, something like that. :) But I noticed that even in well-known brands I tend to choose not the mass-taste stuff.

    Your new stock looks beautiful! Have a great weekend! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are sweet, Natalia.
      I'm not worried about feeling like anyone else, I just like my clothes to express my personality and, if there's a couple of other women wearing the same thing in the pub as me I'd hate it. I used to get in trouble at school for wearing a non-uniform length skirt, the wrong colour socks and peacock blue eye shadow. I find it impossible to conform. xxx

      Delete
  21. You scored some gorgeous stuff this week Vix.
    I love the colour of the waistcoat you are wearing with the playsuit.
    Looking forward to seeing the transformation of the dolls house.
    Hugs-x-

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sheila! some weeks I have to pinch myself - I can't believe what treasures are out there! xxx

      Delete
  22. What a great blog! Loved all of it. Saw a dress I would to die for. Why do we older starting winter plus age does not give you the chance. in the late 50s after work my girlfriend and I from work and would go to a coffee shop on mondays planning the next Saturday dance. The next day we would really hoof it down town to fabric shops. We only had 30 mins. But we had the patterns would and buy the material . The choice of materials was such fun. How we loved it and we would spend the next nights sewing.
    We went through ( late 50s ) going to the Saturday dance spending several times a week sewing.
    There had been a photo of a sack dress in the paper so we made one. Different colour but when we walked into the St. John’s Hall everyone stopped and stared. But we were just 16 . We were so nervous and the next dance one of our group of friendly boyfriends asked us up for a dance . I was told I looked lovely. we knew we had made quite a difference.
    From on it was the mini skirt then the dress just above the ankle.In the 60s I made the bell bottoms. I was married then with a 3 yr. old my dr. Admired them of a visit to our child.
    How I miss those early days. I could make a beautiful dress for my my little but suddenly and I am not political, there were HUGE taxes on books, fabrics and records. A really shattering time as it was cheaper to buy clothes and go to the library. If only I had kept all I made. So beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Sally, I loved reading this and I bet loads of my readers did, too.
      Your comment could have been written by my mum! She always used to talk of saving her saturday job money, buying a Jiffy pattern and some fabric off Birmingham Rag Market, going back home and whipping up a dress for her big night out dancing. xxx

      Delete
  23. I'll have to check out The Bridge- I have no clue about it! Haha.
    And I absolutely adore your snakeskin boots. I've been after a vintage pair for years but have had no luck. That hasn't stopped me though, I just bought my 2nd pair of snake-print boots. I'll have to settle for modern ones until I find the kind I'm after. The new pair will show up on my blog soon.Xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a pair of 1960s Gohils boots, they were usually custom-made (mine were) and the only other pair I've seen sold in 2015 for £2000! I still can't believe how generous my favourite teacher was by giving hers to me. xxx

      Delete
  24. Arsecakes, I missed The Bridge. Still, it'll be on iPlayer.

    I don't wear vintage to look different, but then I never managed to look the same as everyone else even when I was a teenager and trying to. You'd never look like everyone else even if everything you owned was new off the high street, simply because you'd style it differently.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You must watch it, it's a right old shocker!!!
      I've always been an awkward sod, as soon as I see someone else wearing something I've got I go right off it. Back in the 1990s when I had a big disposable income and a penchant for the 1970s revival gear I'd wear something to go out in, see a mate wearing the same thing a week later and never wear it again. xxx

      Delete
  25. wowww, you look stunning in your jumpsuit, and I love particularly how you wear it under your green jerkin, brilliant layering!, and those boots are cool!
    Totally amazing clothes, I would love to visit your stall!
    I look forward to see more of the new dollshouse!
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feels good to get the old legs out once in a while but I like something long on top, just to remain decent when I'm bending over! xxx

      Delete
  26. The Bridge - MY EMOTIONS!

    I'm excited about the new house, when I have a few things out of the way I think I'm going to get one of my own!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How shocking was that opening episode?!

      I'm so excited that you're thinking of getting a dolls house of your own - there's a couple of bargain-tastic collection-only vintage Lundbys on at the moment and one isn't too far from you. xxx

      Delete
  27. My eyes! I can't take it all in. So much color, so many clothes. Your clothes line must have been a beaut. And your playsuit ensemble! Words fail me. Now that's something to wear in the new 4 story doll house!!!! I cannot wait to see it slowly revealed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Pao! I must get cracking on the Lundby tower block now I've got work out of the way! xxx

      Delete
  28. thats a lovely little playsuit. I am having a night away with my chazza shopping buddy this week, hope I turn up a few goodies. Love your turqoise jewellery. Can't for the next dolls house posts, but where will you keep them all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds like the perfect play date, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you find the perfect pair of walking sandals for your next trip and some more fabulous kaftans! xxx

      Delete
  29. OMG, that is the same necklace! How bizarre that we both ended up with it, so far apart! You look smashing in your jumper, and I am drooling over all those lovely vintage pieces - I would totally go to your sales. Can't wait to see what you do with this dollhouse, Vix!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a coincidence, huh? I wish you could come to one of our fairs - not to buy stuff, just to chat and pose for a photo! xxx

      Delete
  30. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  31. You and Sheila with the same pendant!? Two women of exquisite style. Love your romper, so playful - and *no one* will look like you. the new doll house looks like it's going to be loads of fun to furnish. Stay fab, xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, what are the chances? I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Sheila wearing Mum's pendant! xxx

      Delete
  32. It looks great on you! Love it with the suede waistcoat as well xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sarah! I love a jerkin over something short, it spares my modesty! xxx

      Delete
  33. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Beautiful playsuit, love the unique boots you paired it with.

    ReplyDelete
  35. OOOOOOOoooo, look at all those pretty summer frocks and marvelous jackets!! Even though the playsuit may have come from a popular fashion retailer, no one else will come close to styling it as groovy as you did.

    ReplyDelete

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