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Hello! Here in the centre of the universe (aka Walsall) we're finally enjoying a bit of Spring sunshine and the sunrise this morning was spectacular. Without further ado, this what I've been wearing recently.
Last Monday, for an early morning swim and a wander around the chazzas, I wore an embroidered maxi dress from the Barcelona-based label, NK Nekane (eBay, 2021) along with a dyed sheepskin collar, handmade in England by Wada of London and rescued from the 50p bucket in a charity shop in 2020.
On Tuesday, for my day out with Nikki, I wore a vintage Marion and David Donaldson Liberty fabric maxi dress (Vinted) with a 1970s Suede & Leathercraft, London coat bought from a charity shop in 2018.
On Wednesday, for wrapping & dropping off parcels and my biannual dental check-up, it was the turn of my vintage Indian Imports of Rhode Island maxi skirt (eBay, 2022) and an All About Audrey recycled sari wrap top, bought new in 2017.
On Thursday, for a day of Vinted stuff and stockroom sorting, I wore my Free People Jayde jeans (which I've now taken up) and my vintage Falmers waistcoat along with a hand-embroidered Greek blouse I found in a charity shop just before Xmas (£3!)
On Friday, for another day of swimming and charity shopping, I wore a vintage Ayesha Davar cheesecloth blouse (eBay, 2020) with a 1970s lurex maxi skirt by the iconic British Boutique* label, Stirling Cooper, I snafled from Vinted for an insane £3! The sheepskin hat, made in Italy, completes my trio of vintage Cossack style hats (black, brown and cream) and was £2 from a chazza shop last Winter.
*Talking of British Boutiques, stay tuned for another sought after label (and Vinted bargain find) coming up in my next post!
I'd not worn this India Imports of Rhode Island handloomed cotton 1970s kaftan in ages (I've also got it in orange), the leather belt is 1980s Warehouse (made in India) and the black, feather-trimmed Accesorize fedora was £2 from a charity shop three years ago.
On Sunday, I wore one of the art silk sari dresses I bought from Mrs Kaur's £5 rail last Summer accompanied by my Frye Campus boots and a vintage leather belt.
And today, for swimming, 'Spoons and a look around the charity shops, I wore this 1970s maxi dress which I'd worn in Rome. I bought it with the intention of selling it but I tried it on and the rest, as they say, is history!
Ratnamurti asked for an update on my beauty routine and, as it's been a year since my last one, here we go...I'm still a soap and water girl and use Patounis olive oil soap to wash my face twice a day. Made on Corfu, it's the oldest family owned soap manufacturers in Greece and it's my excuse for going back to Corfu every year! You can buy it online, but where's the fun in that?!
I'd run out of facial oil and popped into Holland & Barrett (a British health store chain) to pick up a replacement but noticed this dr.organic Rose Otto day cream on special offer and loving anything rose scented decided to give it a try...I'm glad I was brave, it makes my skin feel wonderful and smells like retro sweets, I love it!
I spotted three of these boxed Vitaskin Vitamin A resurfacing masks on the counter in one of the charity shops last week and for £2.50 (it's in Holland and Barrett for £16) I thought I'd give one a try. Damn it, it's amazing - I wish that I'd bought the other two now!
Another new discovery is this British-made Q&A Caffeine eye serum, also from Holland and Barrett. It really is a miracle worker on getting rid of puffy eyes!
Body-wise, it's Patounis soap in the shower applied with my natural sponge I bought on the Greek sponge-diving island of Kalymnos last year. Nikki bought me the Karma Kream body lotion, I've been wearing Lush's patchouli scented Karma perfume for decades.
Hair! Also by Lush. When Jungle, my favourite conditioner bar was discontinued, the helpful crew in the Birmingham branch recommended I try Candy Rain. It smells incredible and conditions my hair beautifully. Lush products aren't cheap but are worth every penny. I've used lots of Lush's shampoo bars but Jason and the Argan Oil is my current favourite...partly 'cos I love the film!
My two go-to styling products are Tresemme Lamellar Shine, which is probably the best serum I've ever used. The Inecto Curl Club, curl defining cream is brilliant, a cheap Savers find, that really does work.
I'd talk about make-up but I'm still in a state of shock. Barry M, the cruelty-free, British family-owned make-up brand that I've been using since 1982, has gone into administration. What will I do?
The color of the sari wrap top from All About Audrey is so beautiful. And I love your jeans look.
ReplyDeleteI also went to Lush today and bought some more solid shampoo. I've been using it for 15 years.
I wish you a lovely March!
Thanks so much! I love Lush, those shampoo bars are so good and seem to last forever! xxx
DeleteI won't be on Corfu but will look for olive oil soap to bring home. Love the jeans and vest look.
ReplyDeleteYou'll find something similar in Plaka, there's loads of good shops around there! xxx
DeleteRose is really polarising isn’t it? It’s my absolute favourite scent but many people have told me they don’t like it before. I just find it totally uplifting. Isn’t it nice that the sun is finally making an appearance. Bring on Spring! Xxx
ReplyDeleteI really like rose, too! That moisturier smells like Refreshers, it's lovely.
DeleteHasn't this weather been a welcome respite? Long may it last! xxx
Oh, that is a shock about BarryM.
ReplyDeleteI suspect you will continue to find some amazing brands that most of us have never heard of :-)
I've got a mascara, blusher and a couple of lipsticks in reserve. I hope they'll tide me over until I've found a worthy replacement! xxx
DeleteBarry M has been taken over by a company called Warpaint, I remember reading about it in one of the financial pages of our paper. I bought some olive oil soap home from France last summer, it was gorgeous. Xx
ReplyDeleteHi Gill, yes, I think that's the article I've linked to.
DeleteOlive oil soap is the best, I love visiing the Patounis factory and watching the process. Holland & Barrett stock Oliva soap, its made in Chania, my favourite pace in Crete! xxx
Oh no, not Barry M!!!! That's so sad!
ReplyDeleteI think I need to get some olive oil soap!
What a great collection of outfits! I do like the pink kaftan and the new Greek top is gorgeous- just like one I was stalking on Vinted!
I was interested to hear about all your beauty items. I still have some of that conditioner bar that you used to like- mine is lasting for ever! Sad they discontinued it!
I have used that Rose Otto cream in the past too- it's nice but now I get mine from Lliac and Thyme (she's based in Northumberland) and I return all my jars to the maker when I am up north. She used to make a men's face cream which CBC loved when I bought it for me. She discontinued it but still makes it to order especially for me! Her jars cost £12.95 a jar and they are amazing! I love them! https://www.lilacandthyme.com/ourshop/cat_812897-Skincare.html She's always so kind and often gives me a freebie or a discount because I always bring my jars back to her!
OLive oil soap is the best. Nikki reckons that the Oliva soap (made in Crete) that Holland and Barrett stock is similar to Patounis.
DeleteI've just purchased Lush's Golden Cap conditioner bar. I've not got another trip booked yet but it's there just in case - I'll let you know what it's like, it smells amazing (as does all Lush stuff!)
Thanks for the link to Lilac and Thyme, her products look and sound amazing and the prices are very fair. I love that you can take the containers back to recycle. I used to love Body Shop back in Anita Roddick's day when you could get your bottles refilled. xxx
I'd never heard of Barry M until I read your blog, I would admire your nails each time you posted a photo - what a shame it has gone into administration - probably struggled against all the new and flashier celeb driven/owned brands that just know how to market themselves.
ReplyDeleteBarry M was the gp-to cheap and cheerful, cruelty-free cosmetics brand for alternative kids when I was at school, one of the few brands (other than Miners) which made black lipstick and blue nail polish. I think the nail in the coffin was when they decided to apeal to a more mainstream crowd rather than staying weird. It'll be sorely missed! xxx
DeleteSome splendid outfits there. Roll on Spring!
ReplyDelete!!! Can't imagine there not being Barry M.
I'm a soap-and-water type too, though I've got a large stack I've been given over the years. Good job it keeps well! Every time Christmas rolls round, there's sure to be something to add to the stack.
Thanks, Mim! Roll on Spring, indeed!
DeleteI can't believe Barry is no more, I'm hoping some of it ends up in Poundland, I shall keep my eyes peeled.
I do love a bar of soap, I love having a stash at hand, my Patounis supply in running low, I feel a flight to Corfu coming on! xxx
I can see why you kept the lovely dress that you wore to 'Spoons, it fits and suits you so perfectly. What will you do? ... I think you HAVE to dash around the Barry M stockists and gather in a stash that will last you a couple of years.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue! I'm a sucker for a garish floral frock! I've managed to track down two lipsticks, a mascara and a blusher, which should tide me over unti I find a worthy replacement for Barry! xxx
DeleteLovely & inspiring outfits!, I do love your maxi dresses particularly those purple&pink shades!, the one you wore for your day out and that Rome dress, which are so fab!. And I have a weakness for that orange wrap top with lovely block printed skirt!. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your beauty routines, there's such a massive amount of tutorials, products and stuff that sometimes I feel overwhelmed because of my minimalist skincare. That Patouni soap has been in my list since you told us about it for the first time! (I still use some local olive oil soap), and Lush shampoo was something you discovered to me and I'm a happy customer since then!
Hope you can hoard lots of those Barry M. colourful products, they did some beautiful makeup!
besos
Hi Vix, thank you for sharing so many gorgeous outfits. Your taste is impeccable. A good vintage leather belt is an invaluable wardrobe essential. Your Marion and David Donaldson dress is rather special. I wore my Marion Donaldson black velvet dress recently to a Burns' Night here in Scotland with some of my amethyst jewellery. I love your hand embroidered Greek blouse too. I used to have something similar ( as a teenager) that I bought on my first visit to Tenerife. Seeing you in your lovely long suede coat makes me want to get mine out again ( weather permitting). Thank you for the notification of the product for curly hair, mine is pretty wild currently - just like when I was a teenager!!! I'm with you on the Greek olive oil soap. I bought some for friends when in Rhodes last year as I noticed all the locals had such lovely skin.
ReplyDelete