I found this old school photo this morning, taken when I was 18 and just about to sit my A Levels....40 years ago! Same hairstyle, same Barry M lipstick and, if you look closely, you'll see the sleeve of Phool dress I was wearing, even as a teenager my outfits were either ethnic/Indian gear from off the market or vintage clothes bought from church jumble sales.
Jumble sales are a rarity around here these days but I continue to get my vintage/ethnic clothes fix from Vinted and charity shops (not a common sight on the high street when I was young). On Monday, along with an 1970s Anokhi block printed maxi skirt (eBay, 2020), I wore a Bhanuni by Jyoti blouse with sequins and metallic thread I found for £6 on Vinted last year, which the seller bought from Anthropologie for £135.
This Dilli Grey dress which I wore on Tuesday was bought new in 2022 and I expect it will outlive me, the quality is astonishing with pockets, fully cotton lined and French seams.
These crazy sunglasses were 50p from Age UK before Xmas.
After a frosty start its been a glorious day today and I was finally able to give the vintage Kashmiri embroidered jacket an outing when I walked down the road to drop off my Vinted sales in the lockers. The kaftan is vintage 1960s and by India Imports of Rhode Island (bought from my friend Molly of Vintage Relics). The Monsoon fedora was £3 from a charity shop.
As a teenager I was always tinkering with the clothes I bought from jumble sales, altering or dyeing them to make them more "me" or patching up holes and tears - something I'm still doing 40 years later. Here's three of my very fragile vintage Indian dresses I've recently mended. I'll use anything that vaguely matches, the repair on the Amber dress used to be a canvas tote bag!
I'm off to catch up with blogs and comments, see you soon !
Vix you look as gorgeous today as you did at 18! I love your unique style and thrifty ways. Since moving to Bulgaria 10 years ago I too stock 98% of my wardrobe with 2nd hand clothes. I cannot go back! Regards, Lise
ReplyDeleteYour smile hadn't changed a bit! Hard imagining you with lighter hair, but either way, fabulous.
ReplyDeleteYou really haven't changed much at all Vix - Just your hair colour really - How Do you do it ? xx
ReplyDeleteAw, young Vix is a cutie!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your £6 bargain and the new jacket looks beautiful!
I've always liked flowing skirts and florals since being a teenager! I think things like that will never change!
The outfit with the monsoon fedora looks great, I especially love the color.
ReplyDeleteAt 18 you had such a lovely smile and it has remained so until today <3
Love the photos! another clothes alterer here! I remember putting artistic bleach splashes on a t shirt, didn't realise you were meant to wash it off....big holes! hehehe x
ReplyDeleteYou look fab Vicky xx Lovely to see a younger you .. I’m a similar age I look back at photos and think where has time gone to .. xx
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I must say that the person holding the photo does not seem to have 40 years more than the girl in the photo, absolutely not. As for your clothing style, I like when people mantain certain habits, I also did, not when dressing because I was a disaster in my adolescence or until I earned my money and afford buying stuff of my liking. The ethnic and vintage style are some of the most beautiful and memorable I have ever tried, I like them especially during summer because they are comfortable, fascinating, feminine but not too revealing. The outfits you showed us here are gorgeous and I would wear them all without second guessing.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to discover your blog, very interesting articles and very fascinating way of writing.
You look just as lovely today. Beautiful clothes as always, I love the sunglasses. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteYour younger you! Almost a twin. Recently i, too, have been looking at my much younger photos. I was rather shocked at seeing them again after a period of time. My junior high and high school photos were astonishing to me -- i told my cousin that i was surprised to see that i was rather attractive then. Her response to me was "of course, you were" but that is not how i remember those years. maybe because i was so self-conscious about my looks that it helped me to develop other interests rather than focusing on looks during that time.
ReplyDeletekirsten
Beautiful then and beautiful now. So impressed that you already had your style nailed at 18. I think I’ve been through (and continue to go through) so many different phases. I think I’m starting to find my style identity just about now, well for now at least xxx
ReplyDeleteI love seeing old pictures! You have barely aged, Vix (that's what not having kids will do! ha!). Love that you've done so much mending and fixing of your wardrobe - I aim to do more of that with my own this year.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely you look both now and then! you definitely were not meant to be born blonde, that's for sure Vix! you haven't changed much over the years. I am just doing a post and found a pic of me in my younger days by coincidence, if only wisdom didn't come with age - the mistakes we have made (and learned from!). It is so good to have such a strong sense of self and style. I have seen a lot about Twiggy with the forthcoming film in the press - she's a great example of someone who has aged with beauty and has a great sense of style. I have met her although she wouldn't remember me - she was a model by then, older than me - I was a 14 year old living in Twickenham , her name was Leslie then, she sometimes popped home to see her mum who had cups of tea with my mum as they lived in our road - if only I had a photo I would make my fortune! Betty x
ReplyDeleteLove the way that you make everything uniquely your own. And especially love your innovative mending
ReplyDeleteYou haven't changed at all, except for the colour of your hair. Even after all these years I'm still amazed that you're actually a natural blonde, as your current hair colour suits you to a t!
ReplyDeleteYour outfits are fabulous, as always. That vintage 1960s kaftan is such an unusual colour on you, but it definitely suits you, particularly paired with that stunning embroidered Kashmiri jacket! xxx
Oh, so great to see a pic of you back then. You are amazing. Staying so true to yourself in fashion and more. Love these dresses. You are always so inspiring! Love seeing your creativity! I always enjoy reading your adventures and fashion stories. 🌸🌸🌈🌈🌈💛💛💛💛This week, in the heartland we had a blizzard blast that has left us in snow after a rocking St. Patty's with such amazing summer weather. WE are in a weird weather pattern for sure. Wishing you a lots of happiness this month and beyond. Thanks so much for reading and your comments!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and as everyone else had said, it doesn’t look like 40 years between the two photos. Catriona
ReplyDeleteLove your style. Great mending. I love mending clothes.
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