Tuesday 27 August 2019

Imagine Another Lovelier World - Towersey Festival 2019



The Frumptarn Guggenband

Forgive me, I'm doing that annoying thing of publishing a blog post before I've caught up with commenting but we're only home for a few hours as we're heading off to our next festival at the crack of dawn tomorrow so I thought I'd better write about our Towersey experience before it becomes ancient history. 

Our trader pal, Mandy

We arrived in the Oxfordshire village where the festival has been held for the last 54 years (yes, it's even older than we are) at noon on Wednesday. We set up in our usual seven-and-a-half hours and then spent the evening with Mandy and Orr, our lovely festival friends who we met at Cornbury all those years ago. Find her HERE.

WEARING: Dollyrockers (me), Vintage Paul Smith (Jon)

The festival opened to the public at midday on Thursday but from previous experience we knew trade would be slow although by the time we shut at 11.15 pm (as usual we were the last stall standing) we hadn't done half bad.


The BBC's forecast was for sunshine and sizzling heat and I can't tell you what a relief it was when it turned out to be spot on for once. It's the first time I've been able to wear this 1960s Hawaiian maxi dress to work all year.


I was delighted to see shoppers we'd met at our first Towersey - and even happier to pick out a fabulous 1950s cotton day dress that fitted perfectly!

The Towersey organisers were running a competition to find the greenest trader. I'm not sure who won but you can't get greener than a vintage clothes stall - everything we sell has had at least one previous owner, everything is washed in eco-friendly soda crystals & line-dried, our price tags (attached with pins as opposed to plastic tags) and our carrier bags are made from recycled paper and even our cable ties are reusable.


We got the thumbs up from Towersey's resident bee.


More lovely people we met back in 2017.


Gorgeous Janis kindly offered to model for us - doesn't she look wonderful in everything?

You can't see the print very clearly but this 1990s Gabicci shirt featured a disco ball print - perfect for this guy's late night DJ set.


Talking of disco, Saturday was time to dig out my festival favourite, my 1970s Bernshaw lurex maxi.

The return of the giant disco ball

Great to see this pair who'd also paid us a visit at Glastonbury way back in June.


The weather was scorching. Jon abandoned his shirt. Topless service, anyone?


It makes us so happy to see clothes bought from us still being loved a couple of years later. This 1960s cotton dress is just one of them - lovely to see it again, along with the wearer, still looking amazing!


How fabulous is Fiona's vintage rainbow dress? Like me, she's an eBay bargain hunter.

This beautiful family bought from us in 2017 and again this year.


Steph's another gorgeous regular. That 1970s Alexander Clare maxi dress used to be mine - it's definitely gone to the right home!


We met lovely Anglo-American couple Penny and Jim at our first Towersey. They were celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary on Saturday. Having lived there for several years, Penny's a bit of an expert on Naples, find out more HERE.


Until Sunday most of our evenings had been spent sitting, chatting & boozing with our trader friends but with The Selecter headlining we had a proper night out and danced the night away to some incredibly upbeat ska tunes and Pauline Black is an absolute goddess. We didn't film the performance (you know my thoughts on that!) but HERE's a link to their official website.


Like Glasto, Towersey is a five day festival. After six days in a field in 33°C we were definitely looking a bit grubby around the edges but that's all part of the fun. If you're a clean freak, festivals probably aren't for you.






John looked so cool in the white fedora he bought from us the previous day, apparently he was inundated with compliments - hardly surprising!


This lovely couple are regular Kinky shoppers, too!


The 1970s California psych maxi Steph bought from us last year needed a bit of a tweak and luckily I had my sewing kit with me - on the spot alterations and repairs are all part of the Kinky service!


Like Glasto, Towersey is a five day festival. After six days in a field in 33°C we were probably looking a bit grubby around the edges but that's all part of the fun. If you're a clean freak festivals probably aren't for you.


It's lovely to meet so many like-minded people at Towersey, to bitch about politics, rave about bands we've seen, places we've been to and generally put the world to rights. We were delighted to be sticker bombed by the Bollocks to Brexit campaign and were quite happy to keep the stickers in situ. The only other places we meet proper hippies is India or Glastonbury and by hippies I don't mean weekend hippies with proper jobs who dress up at festivals. Hippy is a way of life, not a wardrobe choice.


Remember these two from Cornbury? 


Neighbours Lily and her partner Peter are festival newbies and we got on like a house on fire especially when we discovered that they spend four months of the year in Goa - we're planning to meet up with them on the beach in a few months time! Find them HERE.


The illuminated procession brings Towersey to a close. We shut the shop, packed up the stock and spent our last night drinking and chatting into the night, shoe-less and coat-less - bliss!


It was a bit of a struggle getting up at 6am this morning but we were rewarded with a glorious sunrise for our troubles. We took down the stall and squeezed everything back in the van and were ready to leave by 10am. Why is it that despite having sold loads of stock over the weekend it never seems to fit back in?


No trace left and ready for the journey back home!

 Since getting back at midday we've repacked the van, done three loads of washing & the supermarket run and had our first bath for over a week. After we've packed our clothes, watered the garden and ordered a pizza it'll be time for bed - the alarm's set for 6am....next stop End of The Road!!



See you on the other side!


PS I've set up a Kinky Melon Instagram page, I'd love it if you followed us!! HERE

37 comments:

  1. Hope you're well. As usual, love your snapshots. 7 1/2 hrs to set up before trading seems forever, but it probably doesn't feel too much like a chore when you're handling so many beautiful garments to display. Glad to hear the sun came out to play. All your dresses are lovely, but your lurex one stopped me in my tracks. Hope you wore it that evening when you went dancing. By the way, I think your best accessory is your gorgeous hair. Goes with everything you wear. Glad to see customers coming back - obviously they're happy with the quality of the garments and service. I see Bumble Bee picked out a cute A-line skirt for me. Love the tranquility of a sun-rise. Sending sunny skies to the next festival.

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    1. Thanks so much, Suzy! Those seven and a half hours just whizz past, I love setting the shop up, I'm always excited about the weekend and nervous about whether people will like our stock! xxx

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  2. oh yes - a lovelier world..... i dream with you.....
    so wonderful that this fest went gorgeous after all the rain and hussles. love you as giant disco ball - but you´r more of a elegant chandelier drop than a ball!
    costumers coming back is so rewarding!
    wish you luck @ end of the road!!!
    xxxxxx

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    1. Thanks, Beate! I never get tired of wearing that silver dress! xxx

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  3. I say yes to a lovelier world! and I've enjoyed this post (particularly), because of the fab attitude, the fab weather, the fab people and clothes and the fab music (The Selecter!!! love them!!). So many gorgeous people rocking their vintage purchases!. And you look stunning in your maxi dresses, I love the colorful ones (ohhh, those prints!!) but also the Fab lurex dress!, you look like a Glorious Disco Queen!
    besos & wish you a fab end of the road!

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    1. Thanks, Monica!! The Selecter were incredible - saw them a few years ago and I think they were even better, who knew you could improve on perfection? xxx

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  4. The weather looks gorgeous and it appears like everyone was having a great time. Hope the next is just as successful. A new instagram follow from me. X

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    1. Thanks so much for the support, Jules! xxx

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  5. It looks like this one was real fun. Very happy photos Vix.
    We have an unexpectedly free weekend coming up and tried to get last minute End of the Road tickets, they were all sold out of course, on the upside that means plenty of customers for you. Have a fantastic time. xxx

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    1. Oh no, you'd have loved EotR and we'd have loved to have seen you. Hope you enjoyed your free weekend! xxx

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  6. another fun looking festival. What a nice mix of people. Good to see it's not all young hipsters and overly trendy folks

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    1. It's a lovely mix of ages, a joy to visit! x

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  7. It looks like you had an amazing time. Some fabulous frocks and always lovely to see your stall and shoppers. Xx

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  8. I've been following Kinky Melon on Instagram but I'm still being careful with my liking and commenting, as I don't want to be put on the naughty step again ;-) What a fun and quirky festival, and I loved seeing all the beautiful people in their Kinky outfits. It's also good to see that the weather gods were on your side again. Oh, and you're looking fabulous in all your outfits, even on the days you were a bit grubby around the edges ;-) I especially love your lurex halterneck, and you're looking a treat in that skirt I got you. I knew it was you the minute I clapped eyes on it! Have another good one! xxx

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    1. I'm glad you've sorted your tech problems. I really struggle using a teeny device as opposed to a computer and find commenting and liking stuff really tricky - my hands are too big!!
      Love my psych skirt! xx

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  9. I'm delighted the weather cooperated so well for you.

    Gosh that bold and bright maxi dress your friend modelled has my name all over it.

    I hope your next festival is just as fabulous.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. Thank you! What a difference to the washout that was Lakefest! xxx

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  10. Such a busy time for you but so glad the last festival was a success, both trading and weather-wise. Love both of your groovy dresses, you could easily accept an Academy Award in either :)

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  11. About time the weather gods smiled on you and gave you a gorgeous few days for this festival, Vix! After all that crap weather you've had this "summer"! I'm so glad your season has been successful - I would just die and go to heaven in your booth.

    I bet your furry boys missed you!

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    1. It did us both the power of good, lovely folk and glorious sunshine! xxx

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  12. I sure hope I'm still a 'proper' hippy even though I've got a 'proper' job! Haha.
    Looks like you had a great time at the festival. X

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    1. Jon & I are square compared to some of the people we met and stories we heard.xxx

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  13. Ah, that gorgeous sunshine to cleanse away any lingering bad vibes and other germs from the other place! What lovely people in every aspect of the adjective! (Note to Jess: Some of us hippies must work undercover in proper jobs to survive. I considered myself a mole, waiting for the revolution.) :)

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    1. Yes, it restored my faith in festivals - we had so many great conversations about politics and travelling, lovely to meet people on the same wavelength as us. The weather certainly helped as well, everyone's happy when the sun shines! xxx

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  14. I love your festival posts! Whilst long overnight festivals aren't really for me (I just find the crowds rather overwhelming and the toilet facilities a bit scary), I love living vicariously through you. Lovely you got to wear your summery-wear without a reason to have to change!

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    1. Thanks, Kezzie! I really do think there's a festival for everyone out there. Several of the Towersey lot we know go home at night and return the next day! xxx

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  15. Towersey does look like a great festival. Five days sounds quite long, so it is good you had sunny and warm weather to rely on. You should have won the green shop award, it is wonderful how green your shop is! I always love to see yours and Jon's outfits (that Hawaii floral maxi dress is a dream and the long sequin maxi is so glam), but it is also interesting to see what you friends and customers were wearing (and buying) too. Fiona looks fabulous in her maxi rainbow dress. A very stylish lady! I also liked the images of Janis posing for you. She indeed looks wonderful in everything she wears. Penny and Jim are very stylish in their oversized hats. I also spotted one very stylish family (the one with the tall father).
    It is great you met festival newbies that spend four months of the year in Goa. You can meet up once you're both there. I haven't done a lot of festivals this year, just the Mostar festival and I would have forgotten about it had not a friend came and dragged me out of the house. Now, I wish I've done more of them this summer.

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    1. Festivals are just brilliant! I've always been a bit embarrassed about asking to take photos but I was brave this year and everyone seemed really happy to oblige. I love how so many people leave their inhibitions at the main gates and just throw themselves into the festival spirit, chatting to strangers and not worrying about every day stuff.
      I'm glad you managed to go to a festival this summer! x

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  16. Aw this looks such fun, and what a relief about the bloomin' weather!! It really can make or break a festival. I think the most I ever managed at a festival was 4 nights. My coping mechanism with the grubbiness was vodka, and after 4 days you really need to dry out!

    Loving all your fabulous outfits, you certainly are a great advertisement for your stall! xx

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    1. I think I've spent the last three months living on gin and adrenaline, I really do need a break from all the excitement now! xxx

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  17. Not only are your clothes vintage and eco-friendly, they are also gorgeous!!!!!

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  18. Ah, that looks like a splendid festival! I can't imagine doing a five-dayer, a weekend's as much as I've managed anywhere, but I guess when everyone's doing the same, no-one cares about a bit of grubbiness. And that lurex maxi is always good to see.

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    1. That's when festival chic comes into it's own when you're all finding ways to style grubby hair and cider soaked clobber! xxx

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  19. I don't think I could handle 5 days with no bath or shower but I would enjoy meeting up with former customers and fellow traders. It certainly seems that it's the people that make these festivals more like fun than work (although it's definitely a lot of that too). You look splendid in your fancy maxis, as usual.

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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