Tuesday 21 August 2018

The Return of The Classic Car Boot Sale, Summer 2018 Edition


By way of a change we spent this weekend not in a field but in the metropolis that is central London, selling our wares out of Gilbert, our air cooled VW bus, at the Classic Car Boot Sale in Kings Cross.

WEARING: Vintage 1960s Young Mayfair chiffon maxi (bought from a vintage fair back in 2012)

Although the forecast was for a dry day with temperatures of 24° we arrived to grey skies and intermittent showers. The sunglasses? We'd been up since 3.30 am - we were bleary eyed to say the least.

Jon's wearing a 1970s blazer, Doc Martens (50th B'day present from me), charity shop skinnies, a scarf from Suzy loves Milo and a Pal Zileri shirt our mates found at a car boot sale.

Jon's day was made when Kevin Rowland (Dexy's Midnight Runners) walked past. Alright, Kevin! Jon shouted. Alright, yam yams!* replied Kevin (he was born in Wolverhampton) and we had a proper chat. He asked if I dressed like I did all the time or just for days out and loved it when I told him I wore dresses like this to pop into Lidl. In fact we got on so well did that he came back on Sunday morning to continue the conversation and, being bostin' types, we never mentioned Come On Eileen once.

*Yam yams (what Brummies call folk from the Black Country)


 It was great to catch up with Mim, resplendent in a fabulous vintage frock, handmade cardi and the cutest knitted ankle socks. When we were at Indietracks one of the lovely volunteers tasked us with re-homing some of her mum's collection of embroidery magazines, which she'd kept for over half a century, to someone who'd appreciate them and we thought Mim would fit the bill perfectly. Mim kindly donated some unused rupees from her and Mr Robot's trip to India earlier this year along with three dresses she no longer wore - one found a new home the same day, bought by a delighted Mum whose young daughter loved the green Dumarsel day dress at first sight.


I met Samantha back in April and have followed her on IG (here) ever since. I was thrilled to see her (and her fabulous glasses) again.


 DJ and barber Paul bought a handful of 1960s Mod scarves off us. We loved his style.

I've been reading super chic Alyson's blog, That's Not My Age, for almost a decade so I was excited to finally meet her. She had such an infectious laugh and a mutual love for Cillian Murphy.
Setting up for work on Sunday morning

As in April, we stayed at The County, a family-run Art Deco hotel a ten minute walk away from Kings Cross in Bloomsbury.  It had shared bathrooms but, for £65 including an unlimited breakfast, we thought was pretty good value for London and, after a 20 hour day, once we'd checked in all we did was sleep. We had tea (or dinner, if you're a Southerner) and a few drinks with some trading mates at The Skinners Arms - a refreshingly down-to-earth back street boozer - a cosy & characterful oasis in comparison with the hideously bland, overpriced tourist eateries dotted around St Pancras station. 


One of Sunday's first visitors was Katy, a blogging buddy for some nine years. She was absolutely lovely and looked amazing in her Jean Varon maxi and shark print parka. A fellow fan of the statement sleeve, she found an early 1970s gauzy cotton Berketex maxi on our rails and looked like an absolute goddess in it.


Tina and I met at the Classic Car Boot Sale last year and hit it off instantly. Isn't she gorgeous? We share a love for outrageous clothes - especially catsuits - and yet again she was able to find something she liked on our rails.


As is usual at the Classic Car Boot Sale both us and Gilbert caught the attention of photographers and visitors and we posed for photos galore. 

WEARING: 1960s Luvisca leisure shirt (bought from Mel at Moseley Vintage & Retro Fair), skinny jeans & suede moccasins (charity shopped), antique leather cap (End of the Road Festival, 2013)

It was lovely to catch up with American ex-blogger Jo again (I pinched this photo from her IG page). It had been four years since we last met. We also chatted with Heather for a while. When she left Jon asked how we knew her as she seemed so familiar and he just couldn't place her - we were beach shack neighbours in Agonda the week David Bowie died, I reminded him.


Of course, as well as selling we also buy a pile of stuff at the Classic Car Boot Sale. I bought a heap of groovy 1970s gear from some trader mates who specialise in an earlier era as well as some fabulous psychedelia from both our neighbours and Jon bought a bale of vintage chores jackets from organiser,Wayne Hemingway.

WEARING: Vintage 70s Prova (British Home Stores) maxi I've owned for seven years, Liberty silk scarf (from a charity shop £1 bargain bucket) and my clogs.

By Sunday afternoon the weather was just as the BBC had forecast, warm and moderately sunny so I had a wander about and took a few photos.













Oh look, a seldom seen Type III VW Variant - we've got a Type IV (HERE)



Absolute birthday babe, Suzy from Suzy loves Milo - a women who loved ridiculously kitsch poodles even more than I do.


I loved nearest trading neighbours, Huzzar Huzzar. I spent an age rifling through their rails - we have similar taste!


I'm a bit crap at taking customer photos so here's one I've nicked off Instagram - Goldy Loxx fell in love with this silk chiffon maxi at first sight even though it wasn't her usual era of choice. 



Photo courtesy of Suzy Loves Milo Boutique

Marley (in yellow) won Best Dressed Man - you can see why!

Pimp my ride - hanging out in our friend Bobby's cool vintage Merc coupe. Photo courtesy of Suzy Loves Milo Boutique
 At 6pm we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed off home, rolling in a 10.30 pm (Gilbert might look cool but he's not the fastest ride in the world.) 

Yesterday we unpacked Gilbert, set up a trading gazebo in the garden and, ably assisted by Liz, did a mock set up for the the next festival. Other than a huge pile of ironing, a bit of mending and packing our own clothes, booze and food we're almost ready for a 7am start tomorrow. Towersey, here we come!

Linking to Patti and the gang for Visible Monday.

34 comments:

  1. woww, glad that you had a fabulous time selling and buying and chatting and having fun with people! Your stall always looks stunning, you look gorgeous in your maxi dresses (I'm loving the pink one!) Jon is übercool and the people look awesome!
    Overwhelming fabulousness!!
    besos

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  3. I would really love to go to that one year Vix......especially if you get to bump into Kevin Rowland :)
    Hugs-x-

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  4. Is there anyone who doesn't have an appreciation of Cillian Murphy?!

    What a feast of vintage wonder - and you do always seem to meet some interesting people wherever you go! I went along last year, but only came home with a scarf. There was a beautiful 1940s wool suit, but sadly out of my price range, and anything else I liked was out of my size range!

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  5. Fecking brilliant lovely! How fab to see you with everyone! Mim looks fab. Kevin Rowlands is a treasure and how brill to see you with Alyson. Hers was one of the fist blogs I found along with yours and Helga's. Can't believe that was almost ten years...didn't that fly by!!
    I don't know many people who don't appreciate a nice bit of Cillian Murphy.
    Loves ya!
    xxxx

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  6. You both look great, I'm not sure how you do it with 3.30 am starts but you're looking good on it!
    It looks like a crazy fun weekend.xxx

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  7. Another fab day out it seems!! The pink dress you're rocking is such a gorgeously vibrant colour xx

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  8. worlds best car boot sale!!
    i´m swooning over the gorgeous cars and the nice, cool dressed people and all that fab vintage going on....
    the green daimler suits you :-D
    xxxxx

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  9. Looks like a glorious weekend - the cars, the clothes, and lots of your old friends. And you and Jon always look fresh even with a 3AM wake-up call. How do you do it?? Stay fabulous as always, xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  10. This is always such an exciting sale and you get to meet so many celebs.

    I'm surprised that Alyson stopped by. This seems very far outside of her realm.

    I'm still astounded by your energy levels to keep going like that none stop.

    I would have fought for that silk chiffon maxi from Goldie Loxx. Wow!

    You both looked amazing.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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  11. What a fabulous event and what fantastic people you met up with. Happy happy blog post. Jon looks in his element haha xxx

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  12. busy, busy, busy......good for you!

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  13. Great combo of classic cars and car boot sale - you seem to hang out with celebrities every weekend now!

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  14. Sounds like it was a good 'un! When we're doing the shows I just love to be able to people watch.
    Arilx

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  15. Guess what song has been playing in my head ever since I read your post on the bus home? It'll be Come on Eileen for the rest of the week, I'm afraid. Sounds like a brilliant event, in spite of the fact that the weather didn't play nice all the time. It must have been wonderful catching up with all these beautiful people, including Mim! You're looking quite gorgeous yourself, and I especially love that last photo of you in your friend's car! xxx

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  16. What a wonderful event! All of you, traders and customers, should have won Best Dressed in my books!

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  17. Oh, wow, these events just look like a blast - so much fun, and everyone's so colourful! I could spend hours and much $$ just looking around! Wonderful pictures, Vix, and loving your outfits (yellow clogs - yes!).

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  18. You look fantastic in the maxi and scarf! I love all the photos. Everyone looks so cool and dapper---fun how you crossed paths with so many :)

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  19. Fab. Photos! Love the clothes , you two, and wow what cool cars. Also really liked the picnic sets. Thanks for sharing.xxx

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  20. I just loved seeing the photos of you with your awesome customers, and those gorgeous cars. That's so cool that Kevin Rowland stopped by (what a snazzy dressed bloke!)

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  21. How great seeing all the blog friends in person. I'm pretty sure I'd have left that sale gflat broke with all the great stuff.

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  22. It's wonderful seeing all your car boot friends, what a nice (and fabulously dressed) community. Xx

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  23. Oh, bloody hell, didn't realise this was last weekend! Mr P and I could've stopped by while we were waiting for our train back to Leicester. One thing I love about the blogging community is finding new blogs to read so seeing that you know, and have now met, Katy Boo is brilliant! I've been reading her blog for years as well! x

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  24. So brilliant to finally meet you, Vix. Love the Pimp My Ride pic - and Jon and Kevin styling it out!

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  25. Kevin Rowland, Justin Hawkins, Hairy Bikers....who will you be rubbing shoulders with next? How lovely to meet up with so many bloggers...btw this Southerner says tea! Xx

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  26. Looks amazing!! I wish I had that much fun at work!

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  27. Ooh, it seems like you had a wonderful time! I love that you met all the cool people. That man looks soooooo cool in his yellow trousers- very, very handsome too!
    How lovely that people found things they loved and great that you were able to pass on the mags to Mim! That hotel sounds a great bargain! I will try to remember that if we ever need somewhere!

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  28. See, you found the right owner for the magazines (ME!) and then the right owner for that green dress. If I hadn't brought it to you, it'd have carried on lying unloved in my wardrobe. Now it's got a much better home thanks to you. All that happiness spread around!

    I'm sorry I had to dash off so quickly. I had a lovely day with my friend, but she took a bad turn for the worse on Sunday... she's still with us, though. Maybe I'll get her to the Classic Car Boot some other time, I bet she'd love your menswear stock.

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  29. love everything your wore but that first pink dress with a large floral print is my fav. You always look gorgeous in your vintage maxi dresses.

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  30. It's a bit of a change from the fields of late, but what excellent fun! Goldy Loxx looks stunning in that maxi.
    I wonder how many blogs and Instagram accounts you'll be featured in after this car boot...?
    xx

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  31. This looks like such a fun event with vintage cars alongside vintage clothes. Also great that you get to meet so many fabulously stylish people on your travels!

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  32. Thanks Vix, I loved all your photos of you and your customers . This certainly looks so much fun with classic cars as well as so much great vintage of all types. If only I was closer I could even get John to this one to look at cars while I browsed the stalls. You of course looks a picture in your maxis, specially the bright pink.

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  33. What fun to see the pix of your customers and fellow traders, Vix! I'd have tried to buy Samantha's flamingo shirt off her back.

    Kudos to you and Mim for rehousing those magazines (and a special green dress). As Mim notes above, we vintage lovers do try to spread our happiness around!

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  34. Vix, I swear you have the most fun job of anyone in the vintage world! Your colorful maxis are awe inspiring as usual, as are all the creatively dressed customers and bloggers you featured. PS. I wish I could get my husband to dress like yours!

    Theresa

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Lots of love, Vix