Clothes Turkey

Daisy Dares

2010-01-05T12:44:00.000-08:00

I went to the John Lewis haberdashery department on Oxford Street and picked up some daisies to stitch onto a dress.

I really like dresses in a block jewel tone with a white daisy trim. No pastels for me thanks.

I don't know if it reminds me of of weddings or bridesmaids.
*Probably not. I have only been to one English wedding, which was my sisters, and there wasn't a daisy or bridesmaid in sight.

Or making daisy chains.

*Probably not this either becuase I spent most of primary school chasing after boys with a shoe in my hand in a 'why I outta..' fashion.

I think I just like the contrast of delicate white daisies against a vibrant structured dress.

Mirror Mirror, Icon Mirror

2010-01-05T10:31:00.000-08:00

Dismiss them as tat, or hang them in the heart of your retro-clad home, icon mirrors are something that I personally love.

I picked up The Fonz first. 50p at a car boot sale when I was 15.

Elvis was next. Another car boot sale, but I think he was £3. The King lives in the garage at the moment due to lack of space and abundance of stuff.

Marilyn is my first goodie from Freecycle, the recycling forum for indviduals or charities.

Someone offered a mirror through my local network and I sent them an e-mail expressing an interest. He didn't reply for a week. I then recieved and e-mail from him explaining that it had not been collected, so off we set to collect her.

She will have to live in the garage with Elvis for now.

Caped Crusader

2010-01-05T09:56:00.000-08:00

The best £6 I have ever spent went on this great cape from a Cancer Research charity shop.

On one side it's as mature and as grown up as a cape can be; dark green with black trim. Nice lining I hear you say?

POW! It's not lining, it's reversable!! The alternative side is a crazy red/green/blue/yellow/black tartan.

Retina searing, but pocket money pleasing. I have 2 capes and have given money to a good cause too.

When Mary Quant popped through the letter box

2010-01-05T08:26:00.000-08:00

I recieved a birthday card in the post today from my univeristy pal, Amy. The stamp features a design from mini-skirt Queen Mary Quant.

I was lucky enough to receive my first birthday present from another friend yesterday; a lovely dragonfly broach. It fits perfectly on my £7 faux fur coat.

My house?

2010-01-03T15:03:00.001-08:00

When I have my own place, a space I can decorate and clutter and flutter about in, I would like to fill it with stuff. Lots of stuff.

Like some of these niceties from Urban Outfitters:

I want my house to be full of:

Vintage suitcases
Trunks
Big frames
Small frames
Bunting
Old records
New records
Huge lampshades
Brolly stand
Hat stand
Photos
Mis-matched furniture
Mis-matched cups and saucers
And general knick-knackery

It will take me a great deal of time to find these at a reasonable price.

I reckon that if I start looking now, I will have a hoard of cool stuff for when I can buy a house for me and the boy, in 2030 or thereabouts.

Sigh.

Sales schmales

2010-01-03T13:48:00.000-08:00

I am staying away from the sales for the following reasons:

1. I cannot afford it

2. I don't want to buy something someone else will be wearing. I know this is difficult to get round, and it explains why I look like a Granny most days.

3. I have only left the house to go boozing, swimming or volunteering and haven’t passed many shops.

I have not been to Westfield (which is just down the road) or any other super super shopping centre to indulge in any red-ticketed madness.

I would prefer getting something in a charity shop that would last longer, look better and possibly have hundreds of stories trapped in-between every stitch.

The reality is as follows:

1. Charity shops need to be visited frequently to get the good goods
2. It will take lots of visits to find that coveted item
3. There is no guarantee that you will ever get a certain something you are looking for
4. Some charity shops are really expensive (even when the clothes are vile).

Maybe sale shopping isn't looking so bad after all...

Jammin' till the jam is through

2009-12-14T14:10:00.000-08:00

Our first jumble is done diddly done. It got of to a shaky start but we met some lovely people, ate some lovely cakes and sold some lovely goodies too.

We didn't sell as much as we hoped to sell, and there wasn't too many people there, but we still made a pretty packet.

A pregnant lady bought my faux fur coat. I hope it keeps her and her bump all lovely and snug.

Meet the neighbours

Rag & Bow vintage

Beaming boy with his bargin bounty. I bought this is a second hand store in Budapest.

Musician/comedian/all round bundle of lovliness Helen Arney did a great set on her ukulele, and bought a lovely netted skirt from us too.

To think that jammin' was a thing of the past

We're jammin'

And I hope this jam is gonna last.

All packed and ready to sell

2009-12-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

2 large vintage cases, one medium sized cardboard box, one ikea carrier, 1 washing basket, 1 large Selfridges bag and one plastic bust later we are ready to roll.

It's a jammin' christmas

2009-12-12T16:06:00.000-08:00

Come join us!

Shedding some layers

2009-12-09T13:49:00.001-08:00

I really need some money to feed my spending habit and fund my 3 week trip to Mumbai, Pune and Goa in February.

I had decided to part with some of my lovely clothing by setting up an eBay shop.

I thought I would be able to part with my well-loved and well-worn threads easily but it has been distressing trying to value them individually (especially as I don’t know how to value them properly). I felt bad for deciding some clothes were better than others. And I felt bad for keeping some and not others. Did I really want to part with them?

A few weeks ago I put the first lot online.

I was offended that no one had made any bids for the first 4 days. Did they think my clothing was not good enough? Were they vintage snobs? What about all the vintage virgins I wanted to capture? Didn't they see the bounty I had on offer?

As soon as poeople did start bidding, I felt a tinge regret. Darn it. I did quite like that dress…

Should I have put a once-loved item on eBay? Am I going to get mugged off? Am I being greedy by not getting rid of more? Or am I being an idiot by selling items so cheaply and not valuing them properly? Am I sitting on a goldmine of vintage nuggets or are my goodies one step away form a landfill?

Frick!

Take advantage of my lack of valuing skills here!!

Slackety Slack

2009-12-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

I attempted to go cold turkey on the clothes front but instead I have been buying more than ever.

I have failed royally, but I now have enough clothing to wear a different outfit every day for the next 3 years. Cha-ching.

I have stocked up on goodies from all over England:

London
Bristol
Bath
Manchester
Newcastle
Maidstone

Eastbourne
The magical 140 bus route
Numerous jumbles sale
And Budapest

..and have come accross some little gems.

My wardrobe is brimming. As is the shed, the loft and the boy's bedroom floor. Eeeek.

Snuffleupagus or penny loafers?

2009-09-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

I have been after some penny loafers for a while and going clothes turkey has made my search even harder. I have tightened my purse strings in an effort to save money, but I know these shoes will compliment autumnul hues perfectly.

I stepped into Primark after a 5 month hiatus and bought the pair above. Cheap as chips (because they exploit workers and are unethical - I shouldn't shop there, I know).

Apart from being fairly wide, it turns out they look like Sesame Street's resident junkie, Aloysius Snuffleupagus(Snuffy to me and you).

Well, more like his intense eyelashes. They might need a trim.

I didn't know that Snuffleupagusalso meant some rude things. Urban Dictionary's take on the hairy one offers some interesting insights.

Rumble in the jumble

2009-09-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

Another weekend, another jumble sale, and this one is at the Amersham Arms on Saturday October 3.

Jumble Monthly takes place... ummm every month.

I prefer my jumble sales to be in a scout hut or village hall. Unless the Arms are selling items for less than a quid, there ain't gonna be no rumble; just vintage goodies, cocktails, djs, and tea and cakes.

Next few sales: October 3, November 7, December 5 2009.

Jumble Monthly

The Amersham Arms

388 New Cross Road

SE14 6TY

Lazy Sunday afternoon thrifting

2009-09-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

The boy and I ventured to East London for The East End Thrift Store's Jumble sale. We got there at around 4pm and most of the good stuff had gone (it had been on since Saturday morning). All that was left was mountains of XXL blazers, coats and lumberjack shirts. I told the boy that he looked great in them, but he wasn't investing in the East end chic.

The main manager guy was lovely and very helpful. The other people who worked there looked like works of art.

The main store has some gorgeous stock which is showcased nicely and priced reasonably. They even had an in-house tailor person who was helping a beautiful girl who was having trouble with her burgundy velvet dress.

I bought this white dress for £15. It fits well but I'm just a bit annoyed that summer is over and I can't really wear it.

And I'm not really into wearing white in winter.

Or into going on safari.

And it looks like a nurse's outfit. I'm not really into that either, but I might feel differently later in the year or so.

Also, we decided not to go to The Lexington's record collectors and vintage clothing fair, which was a good thing 'cos it got cancelled anyway.

Unfortunately we can't deliver your item because there’s a fee to pay

2009-09-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

Darn it.

I have been waiting for this dress for about 4 weeks.

Postal strikes + seller slacking on postage + customs = A £10.80 charge for me.

I am supposed to be saving money, but last month's purchases are catching up with me.

I just don't know how to describe...

2009-09-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

..how lovely you make me feel inside.

I picked up this lovely silk bat-wing blouse by Galibardy for £7 from one of my favourite charity shops: Cancer Research, Upper Street, N1.

Bargin, non?

I tried to find out some more information about Galibardy and found nothing. Either way, the blouse is pretty, even if it will crease like crazy.

Perfect Sunday

2009-09-17T13:30:00.001-07:00

The Lexington is my new favourite pub.

Why? Why? Why?

1. Rough Trade hold their pop quiz there every Monday, hosted by the effervescent Paul Guided Missile

2. They have a great range of ales, beers and whiskies

3. The have a collectors records and vintage clothing sale this Sunday (as well as their usual Scrabble club).

Sunday roast + music + old (and preferably cheap) clothing + Scrabble + the boy = definition of pleasure.

Sunday 20 September, 12-6pm

The Lexington 96-98 Pentonville Road London N1 9JB

Pin curls and pouts to perfection

2009-09-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

I always find that my vintage clothing doesn't look quite right with my non-vintage hair. My barnet is big and wavy. It gets caught in my sequinned clothing and in the clasps of my necklaces. I even pin back the long strands at the front to hide how messy it is. If I can scrape together £45 and comb the knots out of my hair, I might pop along to Lipstick and Curls's Girls Night In @ Bordello in East London.

Two of London's most talented vintage vixens will show you how to achieve golden-age glamour with a vintage hair and make-up master-class, including live demonstrations and sneaky hints and tips.

The bubbly will be flowing throughout the evening, and after the class you will be able to take advantage of Bordello's special 10% discount on lingerie, corsetry, retro-inspired accessories, and boudoir treats.

All that for £45? Bargain.

Girls Night In at Bordello
6.30pm - 10pm
Thursday 15 October

Bag full of vintage goodies for a tenner? Aces

2009-09-15T14:06:00.000-07:00

The East End Thrift Store will be hosting a giant vintage jumble sale this weekend (19-20 September 2009).

You can have a good rummage and fill up a bag for £10 or £20.

I have never been to their store but I have heard mixed things about this place: some people say the staff are pretentious and others can't get enough of it. I couldn't give a rats ass if their customer service is pony, as long as I can get some good stuff for peanuts I will be pleased.

East End Thrift Store

Watermans Building Society

Assembley Passage

E1 4U

Moc-croc-choc

2009-09-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Next have come up trumps with this vintage-look moc-croc-choc handbag. I love a strapping handbag, especially one with a good, gold clasp to rival any that Dot Cotton would adorn.

I usually pay between 10p and £5 for a handbag from a jumble sale, charity shop or bootsale. I don’t know if I can justify £28 on this. It is gorgeous, but I would prefer a cheaper, older, musky version.

Unpaid item case open: Vintage 1950's rainbow swing summer dress

2009-09-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to save money, I have stopped using eBay. On a usual Sunday I would stay up late to out-bid vintage lovers on 1950s American threads. This Sunday, I decided to go cold turkey and start a blog about my money saving in a vintage lovers world.

Two e-mails regarding unpaid items have completely shit me up.

The items in question are from 2 weeks ago: a 1950's velvet and curly poodle kelly green dress, and a 1950's rainbow swing summer dress.

Both lovely. Both have payment over due. Not because I don't have the money; I just forgot.

I have ignored e-mail alerts from my favourite sellers, and have stopped searching for job lots and wholesale bundles of old dresses. Going cold turkey is going to be much harder than I thought, especially if I keep forgetting to pay for things.

Appliqué Shmappliqué

2009-09-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

I spotted Diane Kruger wearing the above Jason Wu dress and fell head over heels. Mr Wu also designed Michelle Obama’s dress for the inauguration ball (you know, that one that looked like a wedding dress?).

The dress is stunning. I will pay homage to this beautiful creation by making a homemade version using these appliqué beauts I purchased on eBay:

The iron and sewing box will be unleashed, and my sequintastic tribute will be uploaded soon.

Get outta ma pub!

2009-09-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

I have estimated that over two thirds of my salary is spent on vintage lovelies or just plain beautiful bounty. My weekends are filled with jumbles, bootsales and rummaging (ebay is another story for another day). I cannot pass a charity shop without inhaling the musty fumes and diving into the golden oldie lovliness. And while I am giving to a good cause - my vintage blood red purse with gold clasp is drowning in a sea of Oxfam and YMCA housing trust receipts and tags. My wardrobe is swelling and my overdraft has gone from red to dead.

This is something I simply cannot afford. If I am going to buy a house with a green door for me and my beau, I need to find some willpower to stop spending. The Peggy French suits need to be traded for something Peggy Mitchell could get in Walford Market.

According to Wikipedia 'the practical function of clothing is to protect the human body from dangers in the environment'. Great. I have spent many years protecting myself from the dangers of British weather, nature and other known (and unknown) hazards, in fake fur, raw silk and sequins. From now on, I will protect myself for as little money as possible.