Friday, 22 March 2024

It's All About The Clothes!


After travelling with a minimal wardrobe, I get such a thrill when I get home and have masses of clothes to play with. An enforced absence makes me love and appreciate my vast wardrobe even more than I already do. Here's what I've been wearing this week....


On Sunday evening, for a tea and a few beers in 'Spoons I wore my velvet dress from Kharibu with a vintage Kashmiri woolwork & cotton velvet waistcoat in an almost identical shade of moss green. 


On Monday, for a day of chores, I wore a charity shopped B Young poet sleeved blouse with a 1970s cheesecloth maxi skirt by the sought after & rather desirable hippie label, Forbidden Fruit (snaffled for a measly £4!). The upside of having a rare eye disorder means I can legitimately wear ridiculous sunglasses even when there's no sun!


On Tuesday for swimming and Spoons I wore a Dilli Grey block printed midi dress with a charity shopped vintage suede coat.


On Wednesday, for a morning of charity shopping, I wore one of my vintage Afghan dresses with these fabulous 1960s blue suede go-go boots, found in the Air Ambulance (The Ambo) last week for £6.


Modern boots never fit my skinny little legs like vintage ones do!

On Thursday for another swimming & 'Spoons trip I wore an Indian block printed prairie dress by Kharibu with my cherry red Docs.


And today, for another morning of charity shopping, I wore a block printed maxi dress from Pink Lemons Boutique with a charity shopped fedora.


 With my eyesight improving (another three weeks of medication and a follow-up hospital appointment next month), I've been in the mood for sewing. I haven't found any interesting fabric in charity shops for months but a friend popped round with a 1940s chintz curtain she'd rescued from a neighbour which I promptly turned into a puffy sleeved top which I'll stick on the festival rails.


And lurking at the bottom of the ottoman I unearthed a 1970s Dormy single sheet and pillowcase which I turned into this dress.


This is my ideal going swimming dress, easy to pull off and chuck back on again with no fiddly fastenings. It looks a lot better for popping into Spoons for my breakfast than a pair of jogging bottoms and a fleece. The women in the changing room reckon I should win an Olympic medal for speed dressing.


This morning's charity shop finds are still in a heap on the lounge floor. After a couple of disappointing outings, it made a refreshing change to come back with three bags full. I was excited to spot this jacket on the £1 rail but I think the girl on the counter thought I'd lost my marbles when I exclaimed "Lacroix, sweety, Lacroix!" She probably wasn't even born when Ab Fab was on the telly. 


It was a good morning for vinyl. Always great to find something with a local connection, too - Slade were a Black Country band and Noddy Holder is a Walsall boy (and their back catalogue is way cooler than Merry Xmas Everybody!)  There's even a picture of him in Wetherspoons!


It's our little lad's birthday today. As he turned up on the doorstep last year as a stray, we don't know his real birthday or even how old he is but as he gets on so well with us we thought he must be a fellow Fire sign.


Here's his official birthday portrait. Can you guess which character from history he's supposed to be? 

Thanks for reading, have a fab weekend & see you on the other side. 


63 comments:

  1. Absolutely Fabulous was so funny. Totally outside my norm but can appreciate their genius. I'm sitting in leggings and a sweatshirt, but pretending I'm stylish. We did get round 1 of a 2 punch winter storm, so justified warmth.

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    1. That jacket prompted me to watch a few clips on YouTube, it was brilliantly funny, wasn't it? My Mum went busking around the Scilly Isles in the early 1960s and ended up staying in the same guest house as Joanna Lumley, she said she was such a laugh.
      Leggings and a sweatshirt are pretty much the norm here, I bet yours a clean and not worn for a pub lunch, though! xxx

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  2. Well, I went down two rabbit holes today. William of Orange and Slade, there's a combo for ya! Karen

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    1. Welcome to my brain, Karen! Have a fab weekend! xxx

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  3. Lovely “Forever Home-iversary portrait - I guess he is pretending to be a some posh bloke, born in the Netherlands,1650 🍊 🍊 who managed to be King of England (albeit very briefly)

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    1. That's the fellow! Not posh or big on Protestantism but shares a good head of glossy black hair! xxx

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  4. It crossed my mind, Nell Gwynne, with the oranges!! And I think his face says exactly what he thinks about it too!! The Af Fab quip about Princess Anne's label being 'drip dry' used to make me cry laughing, as I used to do the odd bit of hand sewing for someone who made her clothes!! Zxx

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    1. I wonder what he's look like in a tightly laced corset (I'd probably lose my hand trying!!)
      He's definitely disproved the old wives tale of oranges being a cat deterrent.
      I'd forgotten about the Princess Anne quip, I feel a binge watch coming on. Loving the royal connection, Z! xxx

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  5. HaPpY BiRtHdAy William of Orange! 🐈‍⬛👑🍰

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  6. The Thursday dress looks so pretty and cute, it´s my favorite. Absolutely fabulous was great!
    Happy weekend .. and thank you for your comment and the good wishes <3

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    1. Thank you! It got lots of love when I wore it on Thursday. Hope you're okay. xxx

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  7. great. outfits. I am amazed at the condition those go. go boots are in. I can't recall them past the late 70s here. Happy birthday to the lovely William of Orange. He made the perfect choice to hang out at your place.

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    1. Thanks so much, Marjorie! William had a lovely first birthday with us and got thoroughly spoilt.
      By the late 1970s the boots in fashion in the UK had wooden stack heels. Isn't it fascinating how fashions were so different pre-internet where everyone now tends to wear the same things? xxx

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  8. You always look fabulous
    Siobhan x

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  9. I'm just back from the weekly shopping and every second person was in leggings and sweatshirts, no one dresses nicely anymore to pop to the shops. I love seeing someone has made an effort for me to look at what they are wearing, it's one of my greatest pleasures. I love stopping people and saying " that's a lovely blouse you are wearing" or " ooo, I love your dress". how much imagination does it take to pull out black leggings, white top, white trainers????
    Okay, rant over. Megan.

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    1. Isn't it depressing, Megan? Making a bit of an effort makes so much of a difference, not just for our own self esteem but other people really appreciate it, too. xxx

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  10. Happy birthday William of Orange! How lovely to be adopted by a cat. The velvet dress you wore is a beauty, and I love the Dormy sheet & pillowcase dress. I envy your ability to easily run up clothes on the sewing machine. I struggle with making clothes. I think it goes back to the trauma of sewing lessons at school which were taught so badly. I bet they put off a whole generation of girls from making things. Best wishes, Val.

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    1. Thanks, Valerie! We're so lucky to have been adopted by his lordship!
      I hated sewing at school, too. I used to knock up the odd thing from sheets as a teenager or customise vintage clothes I'd bought at jumble sales but it wasn't until I was 40 that I taught myself to follow a pattern. xxx

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  11. Your outgits are fabulous as usual, and happy birthday to Handsome Mr William. I am glad he found you both.

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  12. Oh I did love Ab Fab and pinched a few quotes from it over the years.

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  13. Thanks for the photos of these outfits in the woods, loved them! You are true to your style which is unique and wonderful. I really liked the post! Vintage boots and dresses look great on you. It's nice to differentiate ourselves stylistically!!

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  14. Love those new sewing projects. Did you use a pattern? King Billy certainly looks the part! Good weekend to you.xxx

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    1. Thanks, Annie! I didn't use a pattern, I drafted them myself which sounds like I know what I'm doing but it was really a matter of matching up rectangles! xxx

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  15. Greetings William of Orange!
    Some fab outfits Vix. I absolutely love that Forbidden Fruits maxi skirt and your Pink Lemons dress is gorgeous!
    Isn't it disappointing when the youngsters don't get our jokes and references? Lacroix!
    Well done for getting back into your sewing. All About Audrey watch out! xxx

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    1. Thanks, Claire! I was excited to come across that Forbidden Fruits skirt, the label is a work of art in itself!
      It is disappointing when the youngsters don't get us. I'm sure a lot of the cool kids who come into our shop at festivals every year think we're completely mad.
      It felt good to make something a bit some challenging than a scrunchie. I think Audrey's safe for now! xxx

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  16. Happy Birthday 'William of Orange' ... I must admit it took me a minute of staring into those gorgeous eyes of his to get it.

    You have a LOT more outfits than me, I'm a case of blue jeans or black jeans and one of my many checked shirts ... I should have been a lumberjack. ;-)

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    1. Thanks, Sue! William enjoyed all the birthday love! Lumberjack, indeed! xxx

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  18. 1 pound for a Lacroix, Sweety Darling, is the find of the year

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    1. I know, I had to pay £2.99 for the last Lacroix garment I found! xxx

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  19. You have some good chazza finds this wee. I just love your Pink Lemons dress, I didn't see anything on their website like it when I last browsed. Happy birthday to William of Orange, he's lucky to have chosen you as he is so loved and wanted. I should think the crop top you have sown will be snapped up at the next festival. Your yellow Dorma dress is very full of Spring. I love seeing your fashion posts, thanks for sharing :) Betty

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    1. Hello Betty! William says thank you! That Pink Lemons dress is still on their website - have a look under the sale section. It's very well made with pockets and fully lined, too.
      I thought that sheet was very Spring-like, I can't wait to wear that dress to the baths with bare legs and my orange Lottas ! xxx

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  20. Although the wardrobe I'm travelling with isn't as minimal as yours, It's still a joy to come back to my full-to-bursting maximalist wardrobe(s)!
    Your outfits as as fabulous as always, my favourites being the B Young blouse and Forbidden Fruit skirt, the Kharibu prairie dress and the vintage Afghan dress worn with those to-die-for blue suede go-go boots. What a find! Swooning over the Dormy "sheet couture" dress too!
    Wishing William of Orange a happy birthday from the three of us. We too celebrate Bess's birthday on the day she came to live with us! xxx

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    1. I love throwing open the wardrobe doors and being overwhelmed with choice after a week away from my clothes, I'm glad it's not just me!
      What were the chances of those blue boots being my size? I was so excited when I tried them on and they fitted.
      I'm hoping it won't be too long before I can wear my sheet dress - it won't look half as Springlike with thermals underneath!
      William says thank you for his birthday love , he's wondering which other famous William he can be next week! xxx

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  21. Philippe Le Bel is a perfect name for a beautifull blac cat. I love your style and your joy of living. It's countagious. bjo (xxx in portuguese)

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    1. **** I mean "black cat"

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    2. Hello Maria! I love Philippe Le Bel for a cat's name, I might have to get another one just so I can use the name! xxx

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  22. I know exactly what you mean about being reunited with your full wardrobe , always so exciting. I am looking forward to wearing my full Winter wardrobe this year after only wearing a fraction of it last year.
    Loved all your outfits and I can see the joy it brings. I did smile at the yellow summer dress , quite sure I had those sheets in the 70s.
    William of orange is such a handsome boy. xx

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    1. Thanks, Jill! Whilst I'm not wishing Winter on you just yet I'm looking forward to you unleashing your winter wardrobe, I bet it's as fabulous as your Summer one. xxx

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  23. Love that your mum knew Joanna Lumley-my favourite Patsy moment has to be when she asks, "Is it a hat?" but there are sooo many.
    Your velvet dress is so beautiful-and those boots!
    I might have to move to England-can't believe you find records like that in the charity shops.
    happy belated Caturday😻

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    1. Hello Stephanie! Is it a hat? That was a classic Patsy line, wasn't it? Move to England, we can take it in turns to host kitchen discos! xxx

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  24. I saw someone else post 'William Of Orange' upthread and thought OF COURSE because I'd been rather confused as to why the kitty wanted to be Nell Gwynne.

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    1. Nell Gwynne! I'm not sure William's buxom enough to do a corset justice! xxx

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    2. Cats: you may *look* at kings. Becoming a king's mistress is not on the cards.

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  25. I always enjoy a parade of your marvelous dresses. The purple suede boots are divine, and I want to see what the entire Christian Lacroix jacket looks like. Ab Fab was hilarious, although when I first watched a few episodes, I think I was too young to appreciate it, now I think it's genius. Wishing the very handsome William of Orange a very Happy Birthday.

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    1. Hello Shelley! Thanks for popping in. It sounds like you need to track down a boxed set and have a binge watch of Ab Fab, we've just done the same with another series we were obsessed with back in the 1990s -a dedicated blog post coming up soon! xxx

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  26. I got the La Croix reference sweetie!!
    Isn't that exciting!
    I love the chintz top and the sheet dress. That type of shape is really in mode but made out of egregious synthetic fabrics!
    Happy birthday William (of Orange...though Nell Gwyne crossed my mind!) Kezzie xx

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    1. Thank goodness for that, Kez, it felt like a real tumbleweed moment in that chazza!
      I love that shape of dress, I've found lots in charity shops recently but the fabric is always so nasty! xxx

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  27. Wonderful to have you back Vix xx
    Delicious ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qcl8dfG3q-E
    (going to slip into my Lacroix trousers and get the AbFab box set out lol)
    "I wonder if Lacroix does kitchens?" - Eddy LMAO

    Thought of you when The Guardian reported that BoHo was back ...
    https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2024/mar/22/boho-chic-revival-chloe-show-paris-fashion-week

    Elaine xx

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    1. Hello Elaine! Brilliant links! Funnily enough I listed a Y2K tiered gypsy boho skirt on eBay this afternoon and it sold in seconds. xxx

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  28. The clothes are gorgeous as ever, but I think that the furry purry has upstaged you this time and stolen your glory with the perfect feline photobomb! Arilx

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    1. Thanks, Aril! He's far glossier than I am! xxx

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  29. Immediately got “Lacroix, sweetie” ! Thanks for the memories. Glad your eyes are getting better. Olivia

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  30. I cheated and read up the comments to get the historical reference to Our Birthday Kitty's name! He's gotten so big! What a beauty he is.

    Ah, such a wonderful parade of outfits, Vix. Your style is just lovely, so Art Nouveau. Love the blue suede boots (they look more lavender to me) - there's nothing that good in the thrifts here!

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    1. He's a proper chonk, Sheila! I think Jon's one of those feeders!
      Thank you for those kind words, a huge compliment coming from someone as stylish as you! xxx

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  31. So lovely to see you back! and making the most of your wardrobe!. Totally inspiring to see your fab outfits, I'm particularly in love with that moss colour ensemble, so decadently pre-raphaelite, and obviously the afghan dress and block printed midi are Fabulous!, so beautiful colours.
    Totally agree that dresses are the best thing to go to the pool, they're easy!.
    And sending kisses to the birthday boy, his majesty has a dazzling black hair! ;DDD
    besos

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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