Don't worry, I'm not talking about New Year's resolutions, they're not my thing. I can tell you already that 2025 will be mostly be spent wasting time and money searching for rare and beautiful clothes, taking far too many holidays and having as much fun as is humanely possible without getting arrested. Why change the habits of a lifetime? Oh yes, and because we're not normal, we aren't going to any NYE parties, Jon and I started a tradition a few years ago and choose to celebrate waking up alive on New Year's Day so we'll be heading to the pub tomorrow instead.
The change I'm referring to is finally hanging the collection of vintage framed prints which have propped up against the landing wall for the last couple of years, gathering dust and inevitably causing one of us an injury when we crash into them on the way to the bathroom in the dead of night.
I've been obsessed with Flamenco dancers since my Dad bought me a doll back from a business trip he took to Madrid when I was five. The little circular Vermeer print was 50p in a charity shop. The vintage kaftan by Jake in India, a label which was sold in Liberty back in the early 1970s, was snaffled for a pittance from Vinted on Boxing Day and arrived this morning.
The black wallpaper is by Laura Ashley, bought in the early noughties, the patchwork bedcover, curtains and bolster were all made by me using knackered vintage clothes, curtains and bedlinen.
More Spanish art, A Spanish Dancer by Scottish artist, Sir William Russell Flint (1880 - 1969) and Toreador by French artist, Bernard Buffett (1928 – 1999). I've had the Buffett print for so long, he was still alive when I bought it. The pink velvet noticeboard is a new addition, bought this morning. My Radical calendar is ready for me to open tomorrow and scribble my dates on - read about this fabulous company here although, if you're the kind of person who describes people like me as woke, you'd probably implode.
Good old Tina, who's constantly moving around the house, along with one of Norman Parkinson's 1970s fashion shoots for Vogue (and another of my obsessions as a kid) - both chazza shop finds. The lining paper was painted with Farrow and Ball's Down Pipe when we bought the house almost 19 years ago and were trying to be historically accurate with Georgian paint colours. The room's in dire need of redecoration but I can think of better ways to spend our time and money (travel!)
The Trechnikoff Rose in the Workshop is a rare signed print and cost a quid from a charity shop years ago. The 1950s teak antelope was a present from Liz a few Xmases back which I'd been meaning to hang for ages.
Decluttering is definitely not going to be a New year's resolution...I love my stuff!
Although I'm selling more than I'm buying on Vinted there's a few new-to-me things creeping in - like this incredible Suzani coat reworked from a vintage Uzbek chapan. Expect to see a lot more of it in 2025!
The weather's not been ideal for outfit photos and, as I'm typing this, the wind's getting up and the windows are rattling, so I've been posing indoors. Transforming the former shit tip into the magnificently moody music room with a metallic ceiling was probably one of our biggest achievements in 2024.
Today's outfit for collecting parcels and going sofa browsing (will 2025 finally be the year I convince Jon to ditch the knackered leather settee for an opulent velvet one?) I'm wearing a Dilli Grey Indian cotton block printed midi dress (bought in December, 2022) with some Clarks platforms (January, 2023) and a charity-shopped tribal necklace.
Contemporary Afghan-style dress (Vinted) and burgundy leather cowboy boots (Urban Outfitters sale) worn for a trip to the chazzas. We spent £11 & came home with two incredible coffee table books, one on the world history of art and the other on the art on display in Birmingham Art Gallery, a Finnish merino wool polo neck for Jon and an Indian embroidered cotton blouse for me.
A Dilli Grey block printed cotton maxi skirt (October, 2022) and a vintage 1970s Anokhi quilted blouse with bishop sleeves (eBay, 2020), the gormless expression is all my own! You can't see my feet but I'm wearing my trusty Frye Campus boots, bought new in their box (labelled £335) via Ebay in July 2019 for £35. This was for a walk into town to drop off our Vinted sales.
Vintage Phool midi skirt (part of a suit, online seller, 2019), All About Audrey art silk wrap top (Vinted), 190s Liberty, London silk scarf (car boot sale, 2009), River Island cap (via the charity shop, 2022) and my Mum's original 1960s Biba boots for a walk into town with more Vinted sales parcels.
Wishing you all a happy & healthy New Year!
Thanks so much for your continued friendship, comments, messages, cards and letters, you're the best. xxx
Happy New Year to you, Lord Jon and the magnificent William.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to another year of catching up on your travels, festivals and fabulous outfits. You have inspired me to invest in some more long dresses and a velvet jacket. Used to wear the men’s ones from M and S (bought in charity shops) when I was in 6th form along with my tartan mini-dresses and converse trainers. I had quite a selection.
MrsCatz
X
Thanks so much, Mrs Catz! I'm thrilled that you've been inspired to invest in long dresses and velvet. Your Sixth Form outfit sounds really cool, I was all about those black dinner jackets when I was in the 6th form, picked up for pennies from jumbles, the bigger the better.
DeleteHappy 2025! xxx
Happy New Year! Thanks for blogging - love the insight into your life. Wishing you a wonderful 2025. Maeve xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Maeve! Your comments are always appreciated! xxx
DeleteSynchronized posting :-) and a happy & healthy New Year to you, Lord Jon and William too!
ReplyDeleteI'm finding "Twixmas" ideal for catching up on things around the house, and change around a thing or two. Well done for finally hanging those framed prints!
We've been braving the elements for outfit photos for a couple of times, but it's a struggle every time. Your moody music room - which I was honoured to be able to see for real - is the perfect backdrop for your fabulous outfits.
The Suzani coat is magnificent, by the way, what a find! xxx
Yay! I love it when we post at the same tine!
DeleteI love this time of year for cracking on with stuff. Jon went completely mad on Xmas Day and bought a cheap vacuum cleaner, something we've not owned for at least thirty years. The house has never been so dust-free!
Knowing you & Jos were visiting was the impetus to get the music room finished! xxx
Just a quickie to wish you and Jon all the best of the best for 2025! Lots of love, Z&A xx ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks, Z&A and wishing you the same! xxx
DeleteOh, look at you! Fabulous, as always. Love the vintage decor. Flamenco is one of my favorite art forms. I took classes in New Mexico, and loved it. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Stephenie! How fabulous to take Flamenco lesson in New Mexico! xxx
DeleteWhat a great room and outfits! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nikki! xxx
Deletethe Suzani coat is to die for! i love the bright embroidery. And the thought that if we love our stuff we don't need to declutter is a total change in approaching my clothing. i manage to accumulate clothing and linens but they only seem to pile up rather than be used. so now i am going through all of my textiles as i have realized i will never be able to use them in my art nor use them.
ReplyDeletewishing both you and Jon a very Happy New Year!! i'm in your crowd these days -- i'd rather walk up in the morning.
kirsten
ps thank you for the info about the windows. i need to look more into how taxation of houses came about in the US. today houses will be taxed on location and size of the lot, size of the house and amenities and recent sale prices. unfortunately in the last few years taxes have gone up for many homeowners who have made no improvements but due to sales of surrounding houses.
Hello Kirsten. Happy New Year to you! It was getting to a point where I'd got so many similar things it was taking me an age to pack for holiday or choose what to wear so I had a bit of a cull and sold the less worn garments on Vinted. It's quite exciting to have empty coat hangers and drawers I can close again (and lots of money in my bank account!)
DeleteIt's lovely to wake up to the New Year alive and not hungover! xxx
PS Your taxation system sounds very similar to ours.
Happy, Happy New Year Vix, Jon, William and everyone in The Comments xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elaine! And lots of love and best wishes to you for 2025, too! xxx
DeleteHi Vix. Happy New Year to you both. We can always rely on you to bring us a beautifully colourful and stylish slice of life. I am particularly drawn to your fab new coat, Afghan- style gorgeous dress and Anokhi top . All these items are colourful, full of texture and highlight the skill of hand crafts etc. I managed to find myself a lovely colourful coat this week at my local Salvation Army charity shop where the volunteer wears a ton of Huge jewellery with massive stones. She knows me well and a while back gave me a large stone from one of her blue agate bracelets I had been admiring. She had removed the stone as the bracelet was too big for her. I had a local jeweller mount it on a chain and now have another necklace to add to my collection. You meet the nicest people in charity shops as we all know!
ReplyDeleteHello Alysia and a very Happy New Year to you, too!
DeleteI love your description of that charity shop lady, she was obviously equally enamoured by you, what a wonderfully kind gesture to give you that stone. I've met some lovely people in charity shops, both staff and shoppers, even though we all have different tastes we're united in our love of a bargain!
Your colourful coat sounds like a great find, its so depressing to see that uniform of grey, black and khaki worn by almost everyone you see. xxx
Ok your Suzani coat is too fabulous! Can I come visit and borrow it some time? X
ReplyDeleteYou'd be more than welcome, Jess! You can cook for me in return for the loan of the coat! xxx
DeleteHappy New Year my darling. Hope the coming months bring you health, happiness, friends and a few laughs.
ReplyDeleteThank you for more than I can possibly fit into a blog comment, xxx
Bless you, my lovely friend. Wishing you the same! xxx
DeleteHappy new year everyone!
ReplyDeleteLoved the dress paired with the burgundy cowboy boots.....!
May it be a year with more creativity, mindfulness and more reading.
A year of Health, Peace, Love and Joy!🧡🎁
What a lovely sentiment! Thanks, Katerina and wishing you lots of love and luck for 2025. xxx
DeleteHappy New Year Vix, I respect your wokeness lol (Im not) we are all entitled to be our best selves and if we all agreed on everything we would be robots!!! I think your Suzani coat is amazing, it looks brand new and I can see it's going to get lots of outings. I don't have any luck on Vinted, would love to know your secret - but then you would have to shoot me. All the best for you, Jon and little William in 2025 x
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Betty! We're adults, we like each other and can respect one another's differences, what a shame everyone can't be the same!
DeleteVinted takes so getting used to - my advice is to spend an hour or two searching for things you love: Naked Generation, Indian block print, embroidered tunics, cotton kaftans, leather boots and fedoras and click the "Like" button - you don't have to buy anything but if you do this regularly the algorithm will pick up on what you're into and gorgeous things will start popping up in the Recommended for You section.
Sending you, Steve, Mollie and the boys lots of love for 2025! xxx
HI Vix, Shelagh here, I just wanted to say I hope you, Jon and William have a great 2025. I adore reading your blogs and appreciate all the effort you put into posting for us all. I am definitely going back to chazza shopping this year, inspired by you. I used to jumble sale shop in the 60s through to the 80s but stopped, though I have no reason why I did so. This year, however, I'm going to get back into it. The high street clothes are, generally, so boring these days so I'm a chazza girl once again. Wish me luck! Shelagh XX
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Shelagh! I hope you had a lovely Xmas and birthday and that 2025 has got off to a good start.
DeleteI miss the jumbles but love a charity shop rummage, like I mentioned to Alysia in my reply to her comment, its not just the buying, its the lovely people you meet. You're right, high street offerings are so boring, there's no joy in buying a grey top from a rack of 50! Happy hunting! xxx
Wishing you, Lord John and Mr Wilberforce a happy and healthy 2025 (with loads of travel!) Louise (Mids) X x x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Louise! Wishing you the same - with loads of travel ! I've already started looking! xxx
DeleteHappy New Year Vix and Jon. Hope 2025 is a wonderful one for you both. X
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cherie! Wishing you and Tony a fabulous 2025! xxx
DeleteDecluttering is only needed with the stuff that just collects dust and takes up space with no value to body, mind, or spirit. Your "stuff" is high value. Your home is like a museum to me, but your life feels like an always adventure so seems fitting that it's housed in the right way. Happy New Year's, Vix.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sam! You're spot on with the stuff that can be decluttered, there's no room in anyone's life for stuff with no value to ourselves. Wishing you a Happy New Year! xxx
DeleteI love your new coat! That's brilliant!
ReplyDeletePart of the anxiety woes is my dear husband having a hissy for about the amount of stuff I have so I had to start a clear out and took 5 bags to the charity shop. I think if I can reduce the packaging recycling, that would help too but I'm feeling a bit grrr about it. I'll never be a minimalist.
Beautiful outfits.
We spent New Year at my Dad's house. Was comfy and cosy
Thanks, Kezzie! i couldn't believe my eyes when that coat popped up on Vinted or that it had been on there for months!
DeleteOh no, I'm sorry you're being nagged about the amount of stuff you have. Is it something you could reach an agreement with by thinking about how you store it all? maybe some of those vacuum bags you could stuff under the bed? I get a bit twitchy with piles of stuff, a hangover from a childhood spent living with Mum's terrible hoarding - as long as it's tidy, I'm fine.
I'm glad you had a lovely day with your Dad! Happy New Year! xxx
Happy New Year! We did go out and yes, I have a sore head. Your steady all day drinking is probably the way forward. :-D
ReplyDeleteAs beautiful as your house is, that coat stopped me in my tracks. I can't take my eyes off it! What a find! I don't think it would ever be off my back! xxx
Happy New Year, Claire! That's my girl. As long as you had fun getting that sore head, that's all that matters! Our quiet drink with friends ended up as a five hour session with Jon falling asleep on the sofa so its SAS Rogue Heroes on catch-up tonight!
DeleteIsn't that coat amazing? I can't believe it had been on Vinted for months! xxx
That coat is amazing, in fact it's a coat and a half!! I love all the artwork on your walls, my walls are filling up fast too, but I am nowhere in your league. Keep collecting in 2025 ... as though you need to be told that!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue! I'm mesmerised by that coat, I don't understand why anyone would want to part wit h it but I'm glad they did! Just when I think I'm running out of wall, I manage to shoehorn in another picture or three.
DeleteGive up collecting, that's about as likely as me doing that Couch to 5K challenge! xxx
Thanks for sharing your fabulous house and wardrobe! I had a nightmare of a year - my 13 year old grandson Logan died July 2, my husband Joe died July 20th and my son-in-law's father Jerry died July 26th. My beautiful little granddaughter Lucy will never know her brother or her grandfathers. Why did I tell you this? Just to let you know that your blog always brings a smile to my face. Your trip photos, clothes and your house are just so colorful and fascinating to me. Love it!
ReplyDeleteHello Carol. What an awful time you've had of it, the loss of Logan, Joe and Jerry in a matter of weeks, my heart goes out to you and your family especially little Lucy. I wish I could do more than sending you lots of love and hope. I'm glad my blog brings you a little joy, Much love, Vix xxxx
DeleteHappy New Year, Vix, to you and Jon. I look forward to seeing more photos of you and Jon modeling your awesome vintage clothes and all of your amazing trips to so many interesting places. I hope it is a year of happiness and good health for you both and William too. Ranee
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, dear Ranee! Sending you and your loved ones much love for 2025. xxx
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ReplyDeleteYour house is unique, I love the way you furnish it and fill it with life. It is also an excellent location for your outfit photos.
Good health and happiness in the new year!
Thanks so much, Andrea! Wishing you a happy New Year! xxx
DeleteLang May Yer Lum Reek!Such riches in this post! 'Tina' was being advertised on my local Marketplace group last week for 80 quid!!Toreador is still my fave!!Your new coat is the liveliest thing I've ever seen!xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Annie! And the same to you! That 1960s mass-produced disposable art is insanely expensive these days - I think the most I've ever paid was £20 for a pristine Green Lady, there's one currently on Etsy for £335!!!! The Toreador is stunning, I'd love more of Buffett's work.
DeleteI was convinced I'd never get that coat, it took ages to arrive. I love it so much! xxx
*loveliest!!!Gawd's sake!
ReplyDeleteGotcha! x
DeleteWow I love your home, So much colour and interesting things to nose at! You should do a National Trust and have an open day, Some of those funky purple ropes to keep out the riff-raff and maybe a cravat and a smoking jacket for Lord Jon. You would of course be the Lady of the Manor, smiling gracefully at the gawping public. How much fun would that be? hehehe x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa! I'm not sure about that, I'd have to keep it tidy although it would be worth it to see Jon swanking about in a smoking jacket and cravat! xxx
DeleteThe collar on that Suzani coat has me purring! Looking forward to viewing the full ensemble! Wishing you, Jon, William and dear old Jacob (will 2025 be the year he seeks a mate?) whatever brings you joy in the year ahead.
ReplyDeleteHello Beth! It's like William in coat form. It's already had a couple of outings ad got loads of love. Wishing you and yours a fabulous 2025! xxx
DeleteHere here to doing things your way!
ReplyDeleteSo, how about this .... happy start to the year - may it continue being about .....'wasting time and money searching for rare and beautiful clothes, taking far too many holidays and having as much fun as is humanely possible without getting arrested' xxxk
Happy New Year, Kate! xxx
DeleteHappy New Year Vix and Jon. The music room definitely is an achievement, it's beautiful. I love your collections, and that new coat is incredible. I can't wait to see what you buy sofa shopping. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Louise! Thanks you so much! I'm working on Jon and a new sofa, the state of the old one drives me daft! xxx
DeleteHappy New Year Vix. Looking forward to your adventures in 2025. x
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Jane! How fabulous to hear from you. You've been missed in Blogland! xxx
DeleteAnother Happy New Year wish to you! Love seeing all your wonderful artwork, prints and clutter (being a clutter-monster myself, hee). Love that new coat!! Is it real fur? (I like real fur).
ReplyDeleteThanks, fellow clutter -monster! Stuff is the best, minimalism's unnatural! It's a fake, baby! xxx
DeleteYou are so organized and your Home and Wardrobe is pure Editorial Eye Candy. I think your New Year Plans for 2025 sound splendid.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Dawn! Wishing you a Happy New Year! xxx
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