All The Leaves Are Brown...

...but the skies aren't grey!

Autumn, it's definitely upon us and, unusually for us Brits, October's got off to a warm start so I can flounce around in my favourite cotton maxis without having to hide them away under coats.

Photo courtesy of Pop Up Vintage

Autumn is the busiest time of year for vintage selling and on Sunday, with the alarm set for 4.30am, we travelled to East London to trade at the Brick Lane and Friends Festival.

Pop up gazebos were supplied by Tower Hamlets council so all we had to do was bring our rails, our stock, one of our Moroccan outdoor rugs and ourselves!

I know, I don't need another dress but, when I spotted a gold studded trumpet sleeve attached to a maxi decorated with a mythical beast print on another trader's rails at Walthamstow a fortnight ago, I knew it had to be mine. 

 Brick Lane is uber cool and I last visited with some blogging pals five years ago (HERE). I know, where does the time go? I thought Suzanne would appreciate the Pug poster.

Never be beige.

These Topshop leather space boots are absurdly comfortable, perfect for a long day on my feet. They were so cheap in their end of season sale last year that I ended up buying two pairs.

WEARING: Shubette of London Mythical beast print maxi (Viva Vintage), 1970s velvet jacket with witchy sleeves (Liebchen Vintage)

Being of a slightly obsessive nature, I can never just rock up to an event and hope for the best. We always do a dummy run in the garden (we've got a pop-up gazebo for when it rains), measure out our floor space and set up the rails. At catering college, my lecturers used to impress upon us the importance of the five Ps, Poor Planning leads to a Piss Poor Performance. Whilst there's no guarantee that any punters will turn up or, if they do, they'll like anything you sell or fit into anything on your rails, at least you know that you've made the best possible use of your allocated space.

WEARING: Vintage 1970s printed cotton maxi skirt (99p Ebay bargain, years ago), Kate Moss for Topshop silk hippy blouse (found in a charity shop last week for £3)

That'll do!

Wearing: Vintage pink & silver Lurex maxi skirt and a 1970s Richard Green Shirt Company blouse I found in a chazza earlier in the week. 

On Friday I put on my big girl knickers and booked in for a hair cut. It had been almost twelve months since my last visit (and before then, a whopping 12 years ago!) I told the salon's style director to do whatever he liked, I just wanted long hair and to not look fashionable. He told me not to be alarmed with the amount of hair he was chopping off and I was very happy when he showed me the finished result, the length seemed about the same but it felt a whole lot healthier. The long layers give it more of a 1970s vibe.

WEARING: 1960s red wool maxi (charity shop), kids' vintage velvet embroidered waistcoat (eBay), Banjara choker (a pressie from the amazing artist, Ilaria Novelli), 1960s does Victorian lace-up boots (car boot sale)

You can thank me for the unseasonably (and gorgeous) warm weather we've had lately - I packed all my summer clothes away the day after Walthamstow! The first half of this week was quite chilly so I was glad of this vintage red wool dress & velvet waistcoat to go out chazzing on Tuesday morning. I love getting the clothes out of the suitcases on top of the wardrobe and rediscovering my winter clothes all over again - it's like shopping for free.

WEARING: Kate Beaver hand printed maxi dress (found in a £1 charity shop, three years ago)

On Wednesday it was warm enough to go out in a cotton dress. Jon and I went on an epic charity shopping road trip and were out for hours. We even treated ourselves to lunch in 'Spoons, something we haven't done in ages, in fact it's been so long that the menu had changed! I highly recommend the roasted vegetable and hummus wrap. 

WEARING: Vintage Adini block printed Indian cotton maxi dress, 1970s hat, River Island suede platforms (all charity shopped)

Today was another warm one with a day of yet more chazzing. We've sold an unbelievable amount of stock in September (despite a quarter of the month being spent in Greece) and the stockroom rails are emptier than they've been in years. Vintage hunting is like a full time job but a lot more fun, especially when I find stuff for me - like this vintage brown felt hat, something I've been after for ages!

Clockwise from top left: 1960s suede boots; 1970s Windsmoor cape (it's not beige, it's camel!); 1980s off-the-shoulder midi dress; 1960s-does-Victorian cotton velvet maxi; 1970s Bickler wool coat; 1960s trouser suit; 1970s wool cape; 1970s Windsmoor blazer; Bus Stop novelty applique jumper, 1960s mohair coat.

And talking of chazzing - I sold everything I bought last week before I got a chance to photograph it, arghhh! Here's this week's finds (there's menswear as well but I'd run out of time). Do I keep the Bus Stop jumper? It's not my usual thing but it's Bus Stop, a shop I was forced to spend hours in as a child and, if you knew my mum, you'll know that the motif featuring a fingerless be-gloved hand with super long, blood red long nails complete with a cigarette in a holder was Mum all over. It's almost as if Lee Bender knew her.

Right, I've got a date in the Black Country Arms this evening and there's a pint of India Pale Ale with my name on it, must dash!

Linking to Patti and the gang for Visible Monday and to Judith, The Style Crone, for Hat Attack #63