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Hello! Has it really been a week since I last posted? I'm not sure where the time's gone.
On Sunday we met up with Liz & Al at The Light, Walsall's independent cinema to see Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. Prior to the screening there was a message broadcast from Cillian Murphy reminding viewers that as the film wasn't due to be aired on Netflix for a fortnight not to share any spoilers on social media ....so I won't. All I can say is it was utterly spectacular and it was a thrill seeing so many familiar parts of Birmingham on the big screen. The soundtrack, the cinematography, the clothes, the storyline and the acting were superb.
I wore the same outfit as I wore when I went to The Peaky Blinders Legitimate Festival with Claire back in September, 2019 (HERE) - a vintage Janet Wood for Monsoon Afghan dress and a 1920s silk kimono.
On Monday we went swimming, had breakfast in Spoons and a look around the chazzas. I wore the silk velvet Laura Ashley maxi skirt I bought from the Sue Ryder clearance shop for £2.99 three weeks previously, teamed with an All About Audrey wrap top which was marked down to £12 on their Vinted page as there was an area of uneven stitching on one of the sleeves (which I still haven't found!)
On Tuesday it was a day of Vinted listings and a bit of housework. Like so many poeple we know, Jon's got that cold which keeps coming back - the third time since January. I woke up with a sore throat but luckily it vanished after 24 hours.
I spoke on my Tiktok video for the first time, shattering a few of my followers illusions that I was posh!!
It was our friend Brendan's 65th Birthday this week (he's a Black Country legend, check him out HERE) and the celebrations started on Wednesday evening when we headed over to Wednesbury for a meal. Neither Jon or I have ever been to a carvery before and were very impressed with Churchill's. There were three options for vegetarians/vegans in addition to vegetarian gravy (something I've never tried and still haven't, I just don't fancy covering my food with a watery brown sauce) and roast potatoes & parsnips cooked in oil (as opposed to beef dripping). Carnivores had pork, turkey and beef and the biggest Yorkshire puddings I've ever seen and the £9.95 per head included a pudding, too (I gave mine to Jon as I don't really like sweet things).
I wore a crushed velvet maxi dress which was originally from All About Audrey but bought on Vinted for £20. My magazine clutch is a 1990s reproduction of the highly collectable 1970s version (a pre-pandemic £1 chazza shop buy).
As I mentioned in my last post, as I've been selling so much of my own stuff on Vinted recently, my feed is full of tempting vintage beauties to encourage me not to bank all of my newly acquired funds. Always on the hunt for a vintage maxi skirt, I spotted this amazing tricolour velvet number for an insane £3 which, despite not venturing further than the corner shop on Thursday, I simply had to wear!
I think it might be the greatest velvet maxi skirt I own! It works rather well with this Spring green cotton maxi dress I bought from All About Audrey from one of their flash sales in 2024.
I love making these "get dressed with me" videos as much I do watching other women's!
The seller was also selling the skirt I wore today. Listed as an Indian circular skirt with no label, it turned out to be by India Imports of Rhode Island, established in 1968 and later changed their name to Adini and again, it was priced at an utterly insane £3! I teamed it with my vintage Anokhi blouse which was a bit of a mistake for swiming this morning as the buttons took an absolute age to do up.
Here's Jane Seymour modelling the same blouse in 1972.
After our swim, we breakfasted in Spoons alongside a large party of young men off to Cheltenham for the Gold Cup (it's an hour down the road). Peaky Blinders has been a huge influence on how men dress for formal occasions and all the teenage and 20-somethings were rocking three piece suits with the obligatory flat cap, short back and sides haircut and gold fob watch....a refreshing change from the ubiquitous grey joggers and slug-like puffa jackets blighting streets up and down the land. They looked amazing and, as I always do when I see well-dressed people, I told them that they did.
We've not spent much time charity shopping this week (Vinted's another story!) but I've picked up a few gems...
This amazing kimono was made in Kyoto and so pretty.
I found the Cristophe Robin, Paris hair mask in the 50p basket and am very impressed with how shiny my hair is and how nice it smells. I couldn't resist the 1980s beaded Korean-made hair slide for £1, just my colours.
Have a fabulous weekend, see you soon!
Hi Vix I had one of those magazine clutch bags in the 70s when I was a pre-teen! Circa 1977 I think. I'm also a 1966 baby. Xx
ReplyDeleteHello Lise, fellow 66-er! Does that means you're a Horse, too? My Mum had on eof the original bags and I was thrilled to spot a copy in a charity shop. The originals sell for crazy money! xxx
DeleteFire Horse like you.
DeleteBrilliant! Apparently we're the most charismatic - we'd get on well if we met! xxx
DeleteWonderful outfits - as usual. You have a knack for picking them!
ReplyDeleteWho would ever have guessed that the flat cap would become fashionable , it's amazing. JanF
Thanks, Jan! I wished I'd asked those young men if I could have taken a photo, they looked so sharp in their suits and caps (although I did worry about the lack of coats, it was freezing yesterday!) xxx
DeleteWhat a week you've had on Vinted for beautiful clothes. Haven't been on since J bought curtains on there a few weeks ago. Too tempting😅
ReplyDeleteThank you! Honestly, Vinted is evil. I never search for anything, I just see what they've recommended for me and its like they're read my mind...how did they know I wanted a 1970s Jesus Saves belt buckle this morning? (I didn't think I did until I saw it!) xxx
DeleteI LOVE your colour block skirt eeek! The colours are amazing 😍 On the subject of illness, I went to bed feeling super ill for the fourth time since the new year... honestly was starting to think there's a real issue with my immune system, so it was interesting (and a bit of a relief too tbh!) to read that Jon and other people you know have been experiencing the same. I've never had so many colds in such a short space of time in my life! Rachael
ReplyDeleteHello Rachael! I was so excited to spot that skirt, it's a joy to behold.
DeleteOh no, I'm sorry you're suffering with this recurrent cold, too. So many people we know are struggling with it, they have a few week's respite and it rears its ugly head again. Jon's getting exasperated with it now. Feel better soon! xxx
While everything looks lovely, the green crushed velvet is by far, my favorite. Love it! It brings back many memories of the 70's. I do not look on Vinted, which when I see what you find, is probably good. My wallet would be full of dust and lint only. Vicarious living through you is close enough. Thanks for sharing so many beautiful dresses etc.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! When I've worn that crushed velvet dress during the day so many older women have come and chatted to me saying how much they adored wearing crushed velvet in the 1979s, it's such a great conversation piece.
DeleteVinted is terribly addictive. I tend not to search for anything and just scroll through their recommendations, sometimes they're very odd but most of the time they get it so right! Xxx
Kent hairbrushes are amongst the best. When I worked in a chemist, we stocked a few, then retailing upwards of £45, so you got a real bargain. We watched Cheltenham from the comfort of our seats on the TV. Had to laugh at the ladies trying to hang on to their hats and their champagne flutes in that wind. Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Gill! Having used that brush when I dried my hair yesterday I can understand why they're so expensive, I've always wanted to try one and they certainly live up to their reputation. I'm always excited to buy anything made in England!
DeleteI did worry about those young lads yesterday, not a coat between them. We don't watch the racing but saw a bit on the news, there were some fabulously dressed people but yes, how they kept their hats on in that wind was a mystery! X
Hi Vix, I just wanted to say hi after a long time! It's me, Romy from former hippyatheart blog from Germany. I've been a silent reader for quite a while now and I'm super happy to see that you and Jon are well and your business survived covid and the lockdown. I also admire how you stick to your style that is still so incredible and 100 percent you! I'm well too, still married to my lovely husband, still childfree by choice, still happy I left my university career. Stylewise, I changed a lot - because Japanese streetstyle is more my thing that I enjoy a lot. Finding my authentic style took my 40 years, I guess. Anyhow, I'm happy to see you do have a vivid community over here, something I'm totally lacking at this point of my life due to sponsered bullsh*t on social media took over and nobody seems to be capable to read longer texts on Instagram ;) It's annoying. Really thinking about coming back to blogger, but I don't fit in the vintage collecting community anymore. But maybe in the not dead yet / authentic over 40 community, haha ;) I just decided to give it a try and set up a new blog. So nice to see you and the gang had fun at the cinema along with Mr. Shelby. Love, Romy :)
ReplyDeleteRomy!! I'm absolutely thrilled to hear from you. I believe it or not I was thinking about our old blogging community a few days ago and I wondered what had happened to you. I'm so pleased that you're still living life your own unique way.
DeleteYou;re right about how people have changed and no longer seem to have the capacity for in-depth writing. I'm enjoying TikTok but still love blogging as it gives me a chance to write in a little more depth rather than catchy one-liners (something I struggle with!) It would be wonderful to see you return to the blogisphere! Much love to you! xxx
Oh Vix, I'm thrilled!! Yeah, I loved our old community. It was about women chatting about how to be themselves, not so much about fashion and vintage as one might think. It is so annoying, back in the day it was so easy to build community, but now... everything is about catchy phrases, dopamine rushes and consumption. It annoys the hell out of me! Btw. I loved the interview video of yours, first time I heard your voice I guess - and I love your fancy Peaky Blinders accent, haha ;) I set up something that might become my new blog, feel free to follow back :) I really might give it a try cause Instagram bores the hell outta me (stalking other peopleis fun, but I don't post anything over there, the algorithm annoys me, at this point I became the disappointed Cillian Murphy meme, hahaha). xx
DeleteHi Vicky, I decided not to come back to the blogsphere or on social media. Due to my codependent tendencies, I tend to view these kind of connections to other people much more close than they actually are and this is not good for my mental health I'm afraid. I do have a lot of solitude in my life these days - that I generally enjoy. But from time to time this is hard to handle, especially with no friends around, no family and no internet buddies anymore. Anyhow, wishing you all the best. It was a nice time back than. Enjoy yourself and take care!
DeleteAww, that's a shame, Romy! Never say never, maybe one day you'll get the urge to dip your toes back in the Blogosphere. You're very much missed and its been such a joy to hear from you again. xxxx
DeleteThe red dress is sensational. It looks fantastic on you. The Laura Ashley skirt is lovely. When I was a teenager, there was a Laura Ashley store in Vienna. They sold clothes, home accessories, and fabrics.
ReplyDeleteThis outfit week is one of my favorites.
Thanks so much, Andrea! There's so few shops like laura Ashley left, so few women seem to want to wear pretty clothes any more. we need to start a revolution! xxx
DeleteI’ve been watching your videos, they are fab and made me smile. You are clever. That velvet skirt is amazing, I can see why you love it xxx
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks Lynn! I'm having so much fun making the videos thanks to my fabulous nail technician who talked me into getting a tripod and a Blue Tooth thingy! xxx
DeleteAll your outfits are fabulous, but your new skirt is absolutely gorgeous! It's like it was made for you. I, very wisely (for me, at least,) withdrew my Vinted balance - I'd be far too tempted to spend it again, otherwise. X
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jules! You're a far more disciplined woman than I. Having the Vinted appis like passing a charity shop, you can resist going in and having a look! xxx
DeleteWhat a lot of beautiful dresses Vix! I like watching your Tiktok videos. Having met, your accent wasn't a surprise, but it was lovely to hear you and I think you should chat to your viewers more! I hope Jon is over his virus - Steve has similar. It's freezing here in sunny Surrey, just got back from Lisbon which was much nicer, not sure if you have been there, you would love Alfama and it would be an amazing backdrop for some of your outfits! I loved Peaky Blinders and think if the youngsters in your area are dressing and having haircuts to look the part - it's going to go far - not yet reached London though so your lads are way ahead! Betty
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betty! I was feeling brave last week, I might do another speaking one soon, it took a few false strats to get into the flow.
DeleteI'm sorry Steve has got this persistent virus, too - one of our friends has had it for five weeks! It just won't shift.
I absolutely loved your Lisbon post and am very tempted to go, we've talked about it for years. I might have to investigate flights from Brum!
Every time Peaky Blinders was aired on TV and did the vintage fairs we'd be innundated by young men wanting waistcoats, Crombies and brogue boots. Barry Keoghan looks particularly good in the film so I see the look really taking off in the next few months (far cooler than the Love island look!) xxx
Hi Vix, I am pleased to see the fab Janet Wood at Monsoon dress back again, one of my favourites of yours. As others have said the crushed green velvet dress looks amazing and you wear it very well. A great find in the tri coloured velvet maxi skirt. I remember my mum wearing maxi skirts to evening events in the 70s and think they had great style. I'm not finding many nice pieces in the charity shops of late, I'll keep looking though! X
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Alysia! I've not worn that Janet Wood dress in ages and had forgotten how vibrant and happy it makes me feel!
DeleteI remember my Mum would often go out at night in a velvet maxi skirt with a silky skinny poloneck and a hige statement pendant, she also hadone in Black Watch tartan which she loved, too!
Its feast or famine with the charity shops, isn't it? I only found a pair of slippers yesterday but they are beautiful! xxx
Oh, such a great week of fashion! & nostalgic outing, as well. Wonderful to hear about the little things you found, too. I hope you are having mild weather. Bitter cold her, but hopefully it will warm up by the end of the week. Happy March and all that holds for you. Thanks for having such a fabulous blog 🍀💚💛💗
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ellie! It's very cold here, too - I'm still wearng my big coats and fluffy hats and probably will be until May! xxx
DeleteI have to say I have finally dipped my toe into the Vinted market and come out really happy with my purchases - just might have to try again!
ReplyDeleteYour accent - it is obviously black country seeing that is where you are from ! Lovely to hear the real you xxxx
I'm so glad you're enjoying Vinted, Kate! It's a treasure trove once ypu've got to grips with it and it picks up what you're interested in! xxx
DeleteLovely to hear your voice on the video, and you are doing so well with them. They look very professional curated. It is nice when you see young people dressed nicely, it only seems to be at weddings and funerals nowadays doesn't it. It seems that Peaky Blinders has worked it's magic in your area. I should make more of an effort, I know I should ... so I have no room to talk. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue! I was a bit scared of speaking but I found my voice in the end and happily with no ermmms! It is a shame that people don't dress up any more and don't even gte me started on those who go to the shops in towelling dressing gowns and slippers, its appalling! xxx
DeleteI am happy to hear your voice again after hearing it when we met in London all those years ago (STILL REGRETTING NOT BUYING THE DEERSTALKER HAT!!)
ReplyDeleteYou did so well on the skirt front. Amazing bargains! Also, hurrah for the hairbrush!
Ah, Jane Seymour is one of the most beautiful women. You look so similar!
Nice to see dressed up men. I'm always so unimpressed by the jogger crew. Also, the beige, cream and tan crew!