Keep it simple, that's what those so-called fashion experts harp on about all the time. All very well when it comes to relationships or your finances but how we choose to adorn our bodies? Never! Why wear plain clothes, simple jewellery or neutral colours when you can have wild prints, armfuls of bangles and clashing colours?
Much as I was delighted to find the twin of my denim waistcoat in a charity shop last year, its plainness was no longer doing it for me so, after rifling through my ottoman of tat on Saturday, I unearthed a frayed Banjara bag I used to take to the beach years ago.
I unpicked it, chopped it up into small pieces and then hand-sewed the pieces bit-by-bit to my waistcoat until I was happy with the result. Just for good measure I added a few sequinned Indian patches I'd bought from the car boot sale a couple of years ago and some pom-pom trim left over from an old project 'cos, in the wise words of Keith Richards, If it's worth doing then it's worth overdoing.
Now I can be reminded of weeks spent lazing on Indian beaches every time I wear my waistcoat.
In other news we were trading in London yesterday.
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| Photo courtesy of Pop-Up Vintage |
The venue, the gorgeous St Stephen's in swanky Hampstead, is a decommissioned church and is a wonderfully atmospheric backdrop for a vintage fair.
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| Photo courtesy of Pop-Up Vintage |
Look at those crowds of vintage lovers. No sign of Brexit uncertainty affecting shoppers here.
Yesterday's 3.45am alarm call was a bit of a killer but meant we could pootle down to London at a leisurely pace. I did have a giggle when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirrors of the service station loos, my wonky eyeliner was a sure sign I'd got ready in the dark.
I was thrilled to see our favourite girls, especially as M was resplendent in the 1960s petal colour Mary Quant-esque leather coat she'd bought from us the other week in Walthamstow.
We had a fab day, stopped off for chips on the way home and made it back in time for Line of Duty accompanied by rum and coke - result! To say we're a bit battered today would be an understatement but we've managed to unpack the van, bank the takings and hopefully, after an early night ,we should be fit and ready for a road trip tomorrow as there's a pile of empty coat hangers that need refilling!
See you soon.
Linking to Patti & the gang for Visible Monday.
Glad you had a good day of trading! Your vest redo is beautiful. I also love that purse. I need more bling in my wardrobe!
ReplyDeleteThank you, we did! Everyone needs more bling in their lives! x
DeleteYour vest is gorgeous! I love reading your blog. Dont always comment, but with what you did to the vest,I had to.Thanks for sharing your joy with the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteHello Lynn, thank you so much for commenting. I'm so happy that you liked my re-fashion! xxx
DeleteWhat a lovely waistcoat. It was a cool denim waistcoat to start with, but like it even more now that is more colourful and vibrant. I also really like those white maxi dress you paired it with. The vintage fair does sound interesting and that decommissioned church looks like a fine structure. I love your and Jon's outfits, you both look very stylish. Those two Asian girls are fabulously stylish, I remember seeing them on your blog before. Their hats are so cute and I love the dresses with jackets too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ivana. I think most things benefit from a bit of embellishment, it makes them more personal, doesn't it?
DeleteThe girls are fabulous, I love that they've got their own unique style and don't slavishly follow fashion be it vintage or contemporary. They're true artists! xxx
You are getting more and more creative! The waistcoat is beautiful and nobody would guess how you put it together beginning with a bag!
ReplyDeleteI smiled when I noticed the big rack of cravats in the last photo! Do you sell many of those?
Thanks, Jan! Sometimes inspiration just strikes!
DeleteJon loves his cravats, his claim to fame was selling a couple to the rock band Kaiser Chiefs a couple of years ago. x
The crowds at the fair look great! I'm delighted you had another good show. Isn't it the BEST when satisfied customers follow you all over? Gotta love that.
ReplyDeleteYour embellished vest is a piece of art.
That green maxi you're wearing at the show is Ah-MAZING!
I don't feel so bad getting up at 5 am tomorrow for my flight now that I know you were up at 3:45! I am a huge wimp compared to you though.
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
It is so humbling to see people follow us to different fairs, we must be doing something right!
DeleteA trader friend spotted this dress on a stall at a fair we did, she send her boyfriend over to drag me over and make me buy it - what great friends I have!
Hope you survived the 5am get up. It's taken me all week to recover! xxx
You've turned that waistcoat into a work of art and as an added bonus you will be thinking of Indian beaches whenever you're wearing it. That decommissioned church looks like a fabulous venue for a vintage fair, and I'm glad to hear the crowds weren't put of by Brexit. Wishing you good luck and lots of fun on your road trip tomorrow. Can't wait to see what you find! xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ann! It was a lovely relaxing thing to do for a few hours, sewing patches of Indian fabric with wonky visible stitching whilst listening the 6music! xxx
DeleteSo creative! I love that you repurposed the bag material to create a new-looking vest/waistcoat. I'm agog at the SLEEVES (major!) on that white dress. Glad you got a good turnout for your fair on the weekend - I love when they hold them in interesting spaces like that - it really helps the atmosphere!
ReplyDeleteHappy week, my dear!
Thanks, Sheila! Those sleeves are attached to a vintage wedding dress I found in a charity shop. I cut the 6 foot train off the hem, I thought it was a bit over the top, even for me! xxx
DeleteI am loving all your recent creations, the waistcoat is very imaginative. Hope you get a few days to completely relax after that hectic weekend. Those girls are delightful and have excellent taste!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betty! Those girls are fantastic, aren't they? I can't wait to see what they're wearing each time we visit London! xxx
DeleteI adore the embellished vest!!! Loving your booth regulars with the leather jacket, too!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Becky! I was so tempted to keep that leather jacket! xxx
DeleteWhat a wonderful day of selling and how beautiful does the interior of the old church look!
ReplyDeleteM's jacket from your stall looks great, it makes for such a unique find because of the lovely colour.
In term's of fashion, I always use good ol' Keith's saying.
And lastly, how you've embelleshed your waistcoat is just briliant! X
It really is a gorgeous location. Dame Judi Dench is a neighbour and a frequent visitor, too! xxx
DeleteSimple I like things colorful and fun. It doesn't matter what it is. One thing I don't like drab and sad.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
I'm with you, drab is death! xxx
DeleteLove the waistcoat makeover!
ReplyDeleteThank you! xxx
Deletegreat that it was a worthwhile day xx and... the waistcoat is so amazing!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! xxx
DeleteYou should write a book on refashioning clothes!! I would buy it.
ReplyDeleteThat lady looks amazing in her bright leather coat. Xx
Doesn't she look fabulous? As soon as I found it I thought of her straightaway, I was so excited when she picked it up at Walthamstow! x
DeleteThe waistcoat is a big thumbs up and looks fabulous with plain white.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the early start was worth it. It must be so rewarding when customers return time and again to see you both. Ooh that’d be is then. Though I count myself as friend firstly. Isn’t Line of Duty gripping xxxx
Thank you!! I loved making it, lots of visible stitching in the sunshine.
DeleteHow exciting is Line of Duty? I don't think Jon and I utter a word throughout. xxx
I've been to a swing-dancing event at that church! Your waistcoat looks super! Well done for more amazing upcycling!!! Hope you did well at the vintage fair. I wish I could have made it to see you again - some day the engineering works will stop!! But 3.45am??!??! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!xx
ReplyDeleteI bet the dancing event was wonderful, it's such an atmospheric venue!
DeleteI know, 3.45am!! I tried not to tell myself that it was really 2.45am because of last weekend's hour! xxx
what a hard work you've done on this waistcoat!, now it has become a piece of art (I do love it!, the colors!, the hippietastic attitude!)
ReplyDeleteI think that some people can rock the 'keeping it simple' thing, but it's not for everybody and it will never be, despite all those advice on wearing neutrals, looking understated or low-key. So boring!
Glad to see your stall looking fab and having a lot of admirers, you totally rock!
besos
We're definitely not in the keep it simple club, are we?! xxx
DeleteLove that quote and what you did with that vest. I'm very impressed with how you recycled that bag. The church really is a beautiful place for a vintage fair. Hope you did well there.
ReplyDeleteTheresa
Thanks, Theresa! xxx
Deletegood re-do of the purse. There's no way that should have been tossed. I have a 3 drawer storage bin of broken bits and pieces at work. You never know when a costume will need a little "trim".
ReplyDeleteYou're right there, I never throw an exotic scrap away! xxx
DeleteThat vest is so cool! I have been wanting to do that with a denim jacket or shirt but have yet to find a reasonably priced piece to start with at any thrifts near me. Once again, you have me green with envy!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I know what you mean, decent quality denim is like gold dust in secondhand shops, all the modern stuff has Lycra in it and it isn't the same. xxx
Deletelove to hear that the fair was fab!!
ReplyDeletethe olive of the dress is an unusual color on you - but very cool look!
and you did wonders to the little waistcoat!! you liftet it from a simple garment to a treasure!! gorgeous with the white dress <3 <3 <3
xxxxx
Thank you! I don't have much green in my wardrobe but absolutely loved that dress on first sight, I think it's probably a little deeper and vibrant in real life but churches and flash photography are tricky! xxx
DeleteYou looked good in the plain denim waistcoat, but the banjarised one is so much more you!
ReplyDeleteHeh, I'm such a minimalist compared to you...
And you're definitely no minimalist! xxx
DeleteClever re-do of your vest, the beach bag pieces were just made for it and the bonus of reliving your travels at every wear.
ReplyDeleteGlad your trading was brisk , well worth the early start. It must be a thrill to see your return customers. xx
Thanks, Jill! It's such a compliment to get returning customers especially when the visit wearing our wares! xxx
DeleteYour waistcoat looks glorious! I'm loving all the upcycling you've been doing.
ReplyDelete3.45am is brutal, I'm surprised you were still awake for Line of Duty!
xx
Thanks, Hazel! Yep, that 3.45am alarm call was a killer. Got it to look forward to all over again next weekend - possibly worse - we've got to be in London for 6.30am and we're travelling in Gilbert, hardly the speediest van on the road! x
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