Friday 9 November 2018

Everything's Gone Green - This Week's Secondhand Buys


Today's outfit was shopped from three of my favourite places, a music festival, Colaba Causeway in downtown Mumbai and the Thursday morning car boot sale.


I spotted the dress hanging up outside another vintage stall at the End of the Road festival. It was Sunday afternoon, we'd had a crazy busy weekend and it was virtually the first time I'd ventured further than the Portaloo since Wednesday morning. I'm not generally a wearer of 1980s clothes (I started wearing vintage back then as I didn't like the choice of clothes in the shops) - or am I a fan of knitwear - but the sparkle of those emerald green sequins in the September sunshine captivated me and I had to buy it.


It's hand-made and came from Verona, where the seller found it at a flea market. Neither she nor I could understand why it hadn't been sold over the weekend but I'm happy that it hadn't. The Kutchi waistcoat was bought from a little boutique on Colaba Causeway in Mumbai in 2016 for around 700 rupees (they were still in stock when we went back earlier this year) - there's several unscrupulous Etsy sellers describing them as "vintage" and charging silly money for them, be warned. The 1960s-does-Victorian lace up leather and suede boots were £1 from the car boot sale.



Here's what I wore on Wednesday. The embroidered tunic was one of Tuesday's chazza shop finds - it's modern, long enough to wear as a dress and will make a great beach cover-up - but, as impatient as ever, I wanted to wear it right away so teamed it with my vintage Tarantella of Walsall suede skirt and a charity shopped hat.


And what else have we bought from the charity shops over the last week? Loads!!

Clockwise from top left: Crista Moden of Salzburg wool suit; Grey fake fur jacket with a posh Malvern boutique label; Amazing reversible wool midi skirt; 1980s Dotty P's cropped wool jacket; Angora hat; Roland Cartier suede court shoes; Kadix midi dress; Viyella wool jacket with velvet trim; 1970s Acrylic belted cardi; Burberry wool cap

Clockwise from top left: 1980s Reflections disco jacket; Red leather moto jacket; Manfield wool midi skirt with suede detail; Crazy wool jacket; Philip Kunick 1960s maxi dress; Crochet gilet; Suede waistcoat; Handmade cotton velvet paisley print jacket; Greek tunic; Kashmiri wool poncho
Clockwise from top left: Planet wool midi skirt; Mondi of West Germany leather moto jacket; Chinese Brocade maxi dress; 1980s Peter Barron of London pure new wool day dress; Jacques Vert embellished satin blouse; 1970s Acrylic knit
Clockwise from top left: Tootal suede front cardi; Fringed suede jacket; Savile Row shirt; Novelty print 80s polo shirt; St Michael wool jacket; 1950s suede ranch shirt from Seattle, USA; St Michael smoking jacket; Tootal cravats; 1980s Rodeo cycling shirt
Clockwise from top left: Tootal suede cardi; Smoking jacket; Hardy Amies wool blazer; Harrington jacket; Gabicci casual shirt

We're trading in wonderful Walthamstow tomorrow - our penultimate fair of 2018, do come and say hello if you can! As usual we did a trial run before we packed the van but, as the weather wasn't playing nicely Jon used the Kinky Shed and I took over the lounge. Here's what you'll find on our womenswear rails. The 1960s purple kaftan (made in England) was another of this week's finds - if it was smaller it would have been mine!


As we've got a 5am start I've already got my workwear sorted.


A 1970s-does-the-1930s maxi dress by Can Can, London - scored for a song on eBay last week as it had been listed in the wrong category. I love it when that happens!


See you soon.

50 comments:

  1. the green dress!! just wow!
    and how chic it looks with the sweet little waistcoat!
    fab finds - i wish the fair would be in dresden..... happy trading!
    xxxx

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    1. Thanks, Beate! It's not my usual thing but I loved it on sight! xxx

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  2. Both of your outfits are wonderful!! Have fun in Walthastow and I hope business is good for you both.

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  3. I can see why you fell for that 80's dress. I normally wasn't attracted to 70's or 80's vintage and now I'm loving it again.

    I want you to teach me all your tricks for Ebay. You manage to score such great pieces.

    Hope your show is busy and the cash is flowing!

    BTW...that you for your very kind words on my recent post. ((((( Vix ))))))


    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. I've always loved the 1970s but not the 1980s. I'm learning to appreciate them now though, it was the last decade when clothes were manufactured in our country and weren't cheap to buy, unlike today's sweat shop produced horrors. xxx

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  4. That green sequinned dress is gorgeous! Can't understand why it wasn't sold before either, but lucky you! I love how you combined it with the Kuchi waistcoat. I see that gods of the charity shops have been good to you, too. Have a great day trading at Walthamstow. You'll be looking fabulous in your workwear, as always! xxx

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    1. I couldn't understand why it hadn't sold either - there's no accounting for people's taste, is there? xxx

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  5. I absolutely love that green sequin dress, what a beauty! It looks great on you. I like how you styled it with that Indian vest, somehow these two items work perfectly together. You look fantastic.

    The second outfit with that green skirt is fabulous as well...and that maxi dress from Can Can you bought is so beautiful. The vintage items for him are lovely as well. You bought a lot of great items. Looks like you had a successful shopping weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Ivana! The dress was hanging up in the wardrobe next to that waistcoat and they just caught my eye at the same time - it's like a message from the wardrobe gods! xxx

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  6. Lots of great finds, I agree that purple kaftan is great! You never find beach coverups in decent shape except in offseason - great find!

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    1. Isn't it fab? The modern beach cover-ups always seem to be polyester - which seems a ridiculous choice after a sweaty day on the beach! If it was my size I'd wear it with platform boots, a heap of jewellery and a big hat! xxxx

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  7. I love the plaid structure jacket. I can see that with horrors, blue jeans, exploring a new to me little town.

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    1. That's exactly how I can see that tartan jacket being worn - with jeans and chunky boots! xxx

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  8. I also struggle to see the beauty in the clothes from the era that I grew up in (the 80s, like you). Some of it was SO repulsive! I'm really happy to see that amazing dress on you - the sequins! the sleeves! It really is lovely.

    What fabulous finds you have...found (lol). Good luck at the fair - I am off to a vintage fair in just an hour!

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    1. That's one of the main reasons why I got into vintage clothes - I hated the stuff on offer in the shops! That dress had to be mine though - I blame the gin! xxx

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  9. Hi Vix, I love the green dress and suede skirt and didn't even notice the sequins on the dress.
    You and Jon are very organised with your trial set ups. Does it take a long time to set up? Xxx

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    1. Thanks, Jess! The trial run takes significantly longer than the real thing as we're often pricing new stock at the same time. We can set up for a fair in less than an hour - much to most of the other trader's amazement! xxx

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  10. Oooo, that 60's purple kaftan is divine!
    I had to do a double take at those sequins- love what you've paired them with.
    Gorgeous finds as always at the chazzas!
    xox

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    1. Isn't it gorgeous? I'd love to know who originally owned that ghroovy piece!
      I don't think I'd wear sequins at night, they seem a bit cliched - but daytime sparkle makes everyone smile. xxx

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  11. It is hard to resist sequins! You have such a knack for finding things not listed as vintage at great prices-someday you should do a post with your magic searchwords and ebay skills. Have a great day trading-hope the van comes home empty.

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    1. I did think about doing a post on Ebay tips - I did one years ago and I think my skills have improved! xxx

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  12. I love looking at what I'm wearing and piecing together it's origins. I've got nothing as varied as your outfit here though. I can see how you couldn't leave the green dress behind - those sleeves!
    I've been shopping with Sophie and Kezzie recently and I'm getting really impatient to wear my purchases too. It's a good indication of how much I like something, if iI want to wear it immediately I know it's a keeper!
    xx

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    1. Yes, you know it's a successful buy when you need to wear it immediately! Can't wait to see your finds.
      The joy of wearing secondhand is that there's always a story attached to each piece - the excitement of finding it on a rail of dross or the fun you had with friends on a charity shopping day out - new stuff has no soul. xxx

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  13. You scored some great pieces this week Vix, love the Roland Cartier shoes but the tartan jacket reminds me of my old airline uniform! The menswear is magnificent, M&S and Hardy Amies jackets look top quality. Hope Walthamstow wows. xxx

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    1. Oh no - nothing worse than something reminding us of a hideous uniform! It is great quality though and I can totally see it being worn with ripped up jeans and Docs - not the polyester pencil skirt, flesh coloured tights and hideous pointy shoes it was intended for! xxx

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  14. well the black kaftan is just what I would buy and the suede skirt too. You look incredibly good in black by the way.

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    1. Thanks, Betty! I know you're a fellow kaftan lover! xxx

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  15. I was all to happy to off-load the last vestiges of my 80's wear to my BFFs daughter. Apparently 80's days are the thing in high school. It does look better the second time around when it's diluted with more modern approximations. But looking back at fashion spreads from them and at old pictures, 50-somethin's like me can only cringe... I wore all that horrid stuff! OK maybe *some* of it was fun?

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    1. Yes - 1980s does look better mixed with other eras and it's the same here, the kids love it! xxx

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  16. Hope you had a productive weekend of selling! I love that disco jacket and the red wool suit, but I am not small enough, and quite likely, young enough, to pull off those kinds of looks anymore.

    I would have eyed up that sparkly green dress too, most of all for the sleeves!

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    1. Not young enough - what is this language of which you speak?! xxx

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  17. This 1980s dress is unique and gorgeous, you look fabulous! Love seeing your green suede skirt as well, gorgeous with the black blouse. Hope you're having a wonderful sale!!
    <3

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    1. Thanks, Natalia! It wasn't a bad fair at all! One more left now until 2019! xxx

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  18. The green dress is a beauty, as is the suede skirt! You have some amazing finds, as usual. Xx

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  19. I totally understand that you were appealed by this green fab dress, the fabric, the texture and shine! and the color is amazing! and Sleeves Factor!!. Love the embroidered tunic and love your fabulous stall! the purple kaftan is something delightful, wish it will go to a good home!
    besos

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    1. The sleeves factor always wins out in the end!! xxx

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  20. I love the green dress and that suede mens jacket with the fringes is similar to the one i told you about the other day lol xxx

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    1. I wondered if that suede jacket was like the one you told me about when I found it! xxx

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  21. The green dress is utterly fabulous and I would never have guessed it was from the 1980s. Such a sweet little waistcoat! I loved your tunic and suede skirt, too.

    What amazing things you found - those suede shoes are gorgeous. Whoever buys the kaftan will be a very lucky indeed!

    Enjoy your week.
    xxx

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    1. Thanks, Vronni! I hated 1980s fashion back in the day - horrible Princess Diana dresses with Peter Pan collars, pencil skirts, pointy shoes and power blazers - but there's one or two pieces that take me by surprise. xxx

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  24. Wow! Great Ebay find. I'm jealous. And that green suede skirt with that black peasant blouse. FabULOUS! That floral print Kunick maxi is calling my name.

    Theresa

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    1. Thanks, Theresa! the Kunick dress is fabulous, isn't it? Philip Kunick designed groovy gear for larger ladies - it's refreshing to find something cool in a plus size! xxx

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  25. That Can Can maxi is gorgeous. I look forward to seeing your photos from the pop-up.

    Re: the waistcoat - I have similar suspicions when I see marcasite stuff on Etsy; it's still really popular in Spain and I'm never convinced it's all 1940s as sellers like to claim...

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    1. Thanks, Mim! I didn't think I'd get that dress and was thrilled to be the only bidder!
      Interesting about the marcasite - I get so cross with vintage sellers passing off non-vintage as old, I've been known to message them and point out their error! xxx

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Lots of love, Vix