Out of my comfort zone.....

Well hello there, it's been a while. I would say Happy New Year but that would just remind me of how remiss I have been with my blogging (not having posted anything since December last year). 

I hope you have all had a marvellous and memorable start to 2016.

 

 I am writing this while looking out onto what used to be my garden. The relentless storms that we have been blessed with of late are reeking havoc on everything out there from plant pots to fence panels, both of which I seem to have less of since this morning.  I made a valiant attempt to return some items to the library earlier and by the time I made it home, I felt like I'd spent 2 hours out at sea. There were only a handful of other seafarers braving the storms, no doubt wishing they had just kept their library books and paid the fine rather than be battered by the elements. We often get blamed by our continental neighbours for being pre-occupied with the weather but you cannot help but talk about it when faced with such extremes.  I only passed three people on my pilgrimage earlier but each one of them made a comment as we crossed paths stating their disdain for the downpours.

 

    Not that I am excusing myself, but the weather hasn't helped in my bid to blog lately.  The opportunities for dressing up and getting outside are overruled by the necessity to dress 'appropriately', (something I am not a fan of!).  It has been a month of rain mac's, brollies and boots and when I have managed to squeeze in some heel-wearing opportunities, I have regretted them due to either freezing cold feet or having them splashed in muddy puddles.  Mother Nature has a lot to answer for.

 

So for this post, I moved to the safety of my hallway to show off some of my latest purchases.  The downside however - having to do stupid selfies in the mirror in order to get some photos. They are somewhat cringe-worthy but I thought I would get out of my comfort zone and give it a go. I have to say, it is easier said than done, trying to pose, point your phone and press the damn button all at the same time.  The likes of Kendal Jenner and Taylor Swift must have gone on a course or something.

 

So as these are my first attempts, I am going to label them as my out-takes in the hope that when (if) I do some more, they will hopefully be a little more natural.

 

I have written about my Anna Karenina coat before, probably one of my top 5 ever finds from a Vintage Fair in Bristol last year.  I dug her out though as she is going to accompany me on a family trip to Iceland soon. I have this dreamy notion in my head of some gorgeous arty-farty photos of this coat in the wilds of Iceland, surrounded by glaciers and mountains and the Aurora dancing in the background.  Nice idea but the reality will no doubt be somewhat different. Nevertheless she is coming and I shall no doubt annoy various people when I take up about 3 overhead cabin lockers in an attempt to gently stow her for the journey.  She will be accompanied with a black fake-fur Cossack hat and black leather gloves. I searched high and low for a black hand muff, sadly to no-avail.  That would have completed the look perfectly (and would have been the icing on the cake for John who excels at ridiculing me for my holiday wardrobe choices).

 

This is my Musketeer cape. Bought with a big smile on my face for £14.99 in the Backwell St Peters Hospice charity shop.  Athos, Aramis and Porthos would be proud. Again, another item of ridicule for John who often offers up comments about my blanket while calling out "hey Gringo" but no matter. If Liz Hurley had listened to her mum about not wearing that oh so talked about Versace safety pin dress all those moons ago, she would not have gone on to land a three million pound modelling contract with Estee Lauder.  You have to take a leap of faith with fashion - you never know where it might take you (in my case, usually just to the pub but just as rewarding as anything offered to Miss Hurley).

 

This was my New Years Eve outfit.  All very last minute while getting annoyed with myself for actually thinking 'I literally have too many clothes and nothing to wear'. I'm not sure how but I suddenly thought how about pairing a ladies tuxedo jacket with Johns wedding bow tie, leather trousers and a stark white shirt. I was really pleased with the result as there was nothing else exciting filling me with inspiration at the time. All clothes are from St Peters Hospice shops, the Tux was Jaeger and was only £5.99 from our Horfield shop, the leather trousers (a personal favourite) were Karen Millen, £20 from our Downend shop and the shirt £3.99, M&S was from Nailsea alongside the Donna Karen shoes (£15.99). All pieces were incredible finds and I am so lucky to have spotted them.

 

 

And finally, my new favourite colour - cobalt blue, I cannot get enough of it.  This coat was in our Totterdown shop in the sale.  Previously marked at £7.99, reduced down to £3.99.  It's a little 'boxy' in style but I like that occasionally.  The black edged top was also from the Totterdown shop for £1.99. Great for pairing under jackets and layers.

 

Just a small selection of some recent loves without any beautiful backdrops sadly, my hallway cannot really compete with the snowy wilderness of Iceland, but no matter, I have tried something new. Something that I was not comfortable with at all but I gave it a go.  I salute the young, confident, selfie-taking generation, just not sure 42 year olds can carry it off with the same effect. 

 

Watch this space!

Girl Power...

Last night I was whiling away a very lazy hour or so on the sofa, cemented firmly in place thanks to a gluttonous couple of days.  I feel pretty disgusting if truth be told.  I adore food, it's my favourite thing but right now, I am ready to sign up to a detox programme. A programme that keeps me firmly away from the fridge and any manner of wine. The gorging is over, let the salads prevail.

There was nothing on the TV (of course, there never is at Christmas) and so I was flicking through other vintage blogs on the net and occasionally dipping in and out of another love......Etsy.  Somehow however,  my surfing led me to a picture of Charlie's Angels from the 1970's. And there is was, staring me in the face in gorgeous triplicate...I am a child of the 70's and that is my true fashion self.

It was like an epiphany. I had always believed that I was from another era (in terms of dress) but in my mind that era was 1940's/1950's. Don't get me wrong, a full circle skirt or beautiful prom dress will always tempt but it wasn't until I properly thought about it that I realised Bosly's girls below, are my true style icons and always have been. I loved the show as a little girl and begged my dad to let me stay up late and watch it (no iplayer or 4OD back then!). I dreamt of growing up just like them, sassy, cool and with hair that bounced and shone as if it were styled by the gods. I still dream of hair like that now as I have never been able to recreate the 'Angel Wave' but I excel at the 'bed-head disappointment'.

The picture above, for me, epitomises their style and I love every inch of their look;

• Tight fitting polo neck jumpers, a staple of the sexy secretary wardrobe as well as beautiful crime trios 
• Pussy bow blouses in super sexy ever-so slightly see through fabrics 
• Wrap dresses  - we thank you goddess Von Furstenburg 
• Belted skirts that were floaty enough to skim the hips and the knee but still flattering enough to show a little of the female form 
• Strappy sandals and high heeled pumps  

Then there's the flip side below..... Androgynous suits with collars fit for Virgin airlines cabin crew
and waistcoats covering the modesty of the low buttoned shirt underneath. I went through a phase in my early 20's of wearing a suit and tie when I went out. I loved it, it was navy blue and double
breasted. I would change the tie colour often and despite it not being the most practical of choices for the dance floor, I wore it with pride to Mr B's nightclub. Strangely, it was a real talking point as men would often come up and comment on it or ask curiously why I am dressed like that. I always found that a little odd as they would bypass my best friend who did everything she could to put herself 'out there' with how she dressed in order to ensnare a catch for the Saturday night slowies at 2am. The memory will always stay in my mind as I never wore it in the hope it would attract anyone, I just loved wearing it for me, craving to be different from everyone else. But it always got more attention than anything else I ever wore but I do believe that fashion can be an amazing conversation starter and that in itself is a very powerful tool. 

I think our leading ladies look very alluring in their suits. Sexiness isn't always about what you can see, but the very strong suggestion of what you can't and that is the trick. 

And then there is the disco wardrobe. Think lurex, sequins, satin leggings, the polar opposite of the men's suit. A look that screams sex and leaves the victim powerless to resist. Again, not all the outfits are tight. A lot of Halstons designs that were a mainstay at Studio 54 in its heyday were long flowing pieces that used meters of silky fabric and yet he will always be remembered for his iconic disco wear and celebrity followers like Lisa Manelli, Bianca Jagger et al. 

Jacqueline Smith is so beautiful, don't you think? 

So this child of the 70's is off to embrace her true self and rifle through her  dressing room for some Angel Apparel worthy of Charlie himself...

All white on the night...

Christmas parties are a very British tradition. I remember when I lived in France, my work colleagues  were fascinated by the idea that pretty much every workplace has one and that it is such a big deal on our social calender. The outfit, the theme, the question of with or without partners, do you drink in front of the boss and many other dilemmas. A particularly memorable one for me was when I worked at the Bank of Ireland many moons ago. It was a Moulin Rouge themed night and we went all out. Corsets, fishnets, top hats, it was great fun preparing for it let alone enjoying the night itself. That said, it was right up there for scandal also........a fight broke out between two 'ladies' and they fell into and destroyed the enormous chocolate fountain, somebody seemed to forget where the toilets were and decided to relieve himself over the Christmas tree which then promptly shorted the lights, there was a 'romantic' interlude in the toilets (which probably started the chocolate fountain incident) and last but not least, I managed to slip and break my wrist walking in to the event. Walking out would have been explainable after two many grape juices but walking in? That was a first even for me.  After a few of the aforementioned grape juices however the pain subsided and it wasn't until the next day that it properly hit me and a trip to A&E ensued and being plastered (in a cast) for Christmas.

I usually rely on John's company for a great Christmas night out as up till now, partners were always invited. This year we weren't unfortunately so I was really disappointed. Luckily I managed to get a last minute ticket to my works party (being the new girl) which only gave me two days to think about an outfit. The event was a carnival theme but not having a massive stash of Carmen Miranda-esque costumes, I opted for this dress instead. I posted about it recently, it was an amazing find from a shop on Gloucester Road in Bristol. I had never been in before and I sadly can't remember the name. It was a quirky shop full of incense burners and Bob Marley memorabilia but they had an amazing vintage rail at the back of the shop.  Once again, I fell in love and had to buy it. When you wear it, it makes you feel like a cross between Joan Collins and a cupcake. There are so many layers of satin, the picture doesn't really show them to their full effect. White is a brave decision for me. It's not something I lean towards if truth be told. It's not traditionally a colour favoured by the curvy but in the absence of a choice of colours, white it was. Cobalt blue would have been the dream.

And it held up its end of the bargain and saw me (and my outlandish) dance moves well into the wee hours. And even while snoring and cradling a bottle of bubbly in the car on the way home, it returned home as good as new (as good as second-hand at least). Needless to say, I had a great night. I danced for hours and it's been a while since I've  done that anywhere.

A quick note about the cage shoes, which aren't second-hand (don't report me) BUT... they rank very highly on my bargain finds list. Originally £95 which is a ridiculous sum for shoes even for me - an addict, they were eventually reduced down to £15 and I snapped them up. My last true bargain before I left Wallis. They are so comfy. And the bag.....another Maggie bag from St Peter's Hospice Nailsea shop for £4.50. I am racking up quite a collection in homage to Dame Thatcher. Quite apt as a lot of the items from her collection went on sale this week. The necklace which you can't quite see is a a amazing twisted snake - £2.99 from a charity shop. I shall post a better picture soon.....

So there you have it. I survived my first Christmas party with a new company and no broken bones to report or scandals to hide from. Apart from my dance moves. Not sure they were ready for those. Not sure if anyone ever will be.....

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!....

Goodwood Revival...

I am unsure as to how my all things vintage radar has never picked up on this event - The Goodwood Revival.

Once a year a group of like minded individuals come together to bond over their love of vintage motor sport and clothing (circa 1940-1960) and looking at the photos from previous events, it is right up my retro alley. Last Sunday was an extremely lazy day glued to the sofa while I trawled the internet for information and images of the best dressed attendees, gazing on in awe as wave upon wave of outfits  presented themselves. Poor John was informed almost instantly that next September we will be attending and that we (emphasis on he), shall be dressing up accordingly. After several sighs and a lowering of the head he nodded as though he knew putting up a fight would be pointless. The thought of him dressing up as an old RAF officer or any other period uniform gentleman (note the use of the word Gentleman), is so exciting. I haven't seen him dressed smart since our wedding and if he could have got married in shorts and flip flops, he would have.

So now that this is firmly on the Merchant-Locke calendar, so too is the search for the dress. THE dress. The one and only, totally unique, genuine vintage piece that will knock his socks off (and mine).  I would never really call myself competitive, it's never been something that drives me (compared to others), but for some reason, as soon as I saw that there is a best dressed competition each day of the festival, that was it. The gauntlet has been well and truly laid down, grabbed and held high.

A thousand ideas are going through my already very crammed mind such as where can I procure such a piece? Do I design it myself and have it made (although that does somewhat go against the whole vintage concept). Do I keep scouring charity shops in the hope that I will find that little gem that nobody else has noticed? Do I up my game at vintage fairs and pay a little bit more for that totally unique piece? Or do I wear something I already have (John's favourite option) and be happy with it. I do have a couple of genuinely lovely things I could wear but neither would be 'winners', when comparing them to what some of the ladies seem to sport. Here are a few pictures to help put you in the picture!

The lady here in the hat won the Best Dressed title in 2013. 

Men in uniform......no comment required. 

And here are some of the dresses that I love and that will be my inspiration when out there hunting around second-hand emporiums...

The ultimate. Absolutely beautiful. Strangely, this very picture is featured in one of my many vintage

 books but sadly it  doesn't give me any history about it which is a shame as it obviously has a 

wonderful story to tell. 

I would give anything  to find a dress such as this. What a conversation starter. 

Another hooded number. 

Embellishments and corsages.....I can never have enough. 

So there you have it. A somewhat large challenge but definitely achievable. What john doesn't know however is that if we stay overnight and go for two days then I think I may even have to find two outfits. Thank god I have 9 months.  

Isn't she lovely...

How elegant does this lady look?

I was lucky enough to be in one of my St Peters Hospice shops the other day (my shops.......I'm so lucky to be able to say that), and this very demure lady walked in. The epitome of old Hollywood glamour, I couldn't stop staring and I had to ask her for a photograph. Not only that, but I was soon to find out that she actually volunteers for us. How lucky are we. I think I am going to have to raise my game if I am to visit that shop when she's around. She agreed that people don't dress up as much as they should, I think that people forget that fashion should and can be so much fun. Why not make a silent statement about who you are, without even opening your mouth. 

My statement would say "I love Audrey Hepburn" or "Thank you Miss Carrie Bradshaw", both of them having played such a significant part in who I have become (my wardrobe 'self' anyway).  I have a library of books on Miss Hepburn. I adore her. Her style, attitude, her zest for life and also her charity work that became so important towards the end of her amazing life. As for the now Mrs Big, Carrie Bradshaw, she of the tutu and vest wearing fame shaped who I was in my early thirties. I have always loved fashion but she inspired me to challenge the norm and to not be afraid to go against the grain and have some fun. Fake fur coat and heels to a lunch? Why not. Tutu and cashmere cardigan for my first date with John? Hell yeah.  She transformed my love of fashion into actual memorable moments that I look back on very fondly. Some good and some bad but I can at least say that I truly played around with my identity through my clothes. I hope I will always continue in that vain, to never lose sight of that fun expressionist inside me. And now working in the charity shop sector myself, I am surrounded by inspirations every day. This wonderful lady being one of them. 

What would your silent statement be? 

Adornments...

I love accessories. 

They can help turn an otherwise nondescript outfit into something more playful and expressive. Something that says a little je ne sais quoi about you to the onlooking world. An unusual brooch, a statement bag, some bright leather gloves to add a splash of colour or even perhaps to suggest a little naughtiness...

Hats  and headwear I love in particular (although I don't wear them as much as I should, no one does sadly). I also love brooches, big old costume jewellery brooches, that scream Dallas and Dynasty. The more sparkle, the better. I am finding that I am morphing more into my Nan each day. 

Below are a few photos of my most recent purchases, all from St Peters Hospice  charity shops and not one piece over £4. 

Quite a few embellishments but all at amazing charity shop prices so the guilt factor is minimised. 

Nan would be proud. 

Vintage memories...

Hello fellow foragers, I hope you've had an amazing week. 

Mine has been a real mixture of emotions and situations. Second week in my new job and it already feels like I've been there for ages. A good sign me thinks. Things are slowly starting to slot into place and the million pieces of new information are finally taking root in my head. I was also lucky enough to see a very dear friend that was home on a rare trip from Australia. There were lots of smiles and tears as we talked over some incredible memories and shared new stories of how life is now. We first met almost 25 years ago when the only thing that seemed to matter was a Saturday night at Mr B's nightclub in sunny Weston-super-Mare. And thanks to meeting up again, all those filed away memories are now pouring back out, making me smile once more. For several years our little 'gang' held tight as we drank Mad Dog 20 20 (can you even buy that anymore?), we danced till dawn then reviewed the evenings shenanigans over the obligatory chicken burger and chips at the taxi rank. Great, great times.  It's fascinating how life changes so much over time. I always think your late teens are such a precious time. A time of new love (and of new love anxiety as you wait by the phone hoping he will call), a time of infinite possibilities as you merge into adulthood (sometimes unwillingly), trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be. Further studies? Baby plans? Career decisions? It's a time when so many new emotions and situations have to be addressed and massive life lessons are learnt. I would love to wave a magic wand and be transported back once more to one of those Saturday nights. I would certainly have a sharp word with myself over some of my then fashion choices......my androgynous suit and tie phase, my orange psychedelic see-through blouse  that my friend Kirsty aptly named the 'cat sick' blouse and then there's the hot pants. Or ice pants as my friend Ted used to call them. Not my finest moment. But I would just take it all in again, the laughter, the excitement, that feeling of friendships and of first loves. That feeling that for one night at least, nothing can ruin our moment, our time. That feeling like you could live forever. I am lucky to have such wonderful memories to call upon. 

Back to the here and completely hot pant free now, the picture above shows a couple of new editions to the behemoth that is my wardrobe. Cream soft leather cropped trousers and a cropped velvet jacket. Both second-hand of course and both loved very much already. The trousers were a real find. 

£16 from the incredible Ty Hafan Emporium in the Royal Arcade, Cardiff. I haven't yet done a blog 

post about this Aladdin's cave of all things vintage but it won't be long. I thought I'd died and goneto vintage heaven. It's a wonderful place if you like second-hand shopping in great surroundings. 

Being slightly challenged in the height department, cropped trousers are not usually my item of choice but these aren't too short and they are so comfortable. I thought that cream was also a really nice change. The jacket is vintage Alexon, not easy to see in the picture but the condition is perfect and I have worn it to death already and all for the princely sum of £4. 

So there you have it, a nice little pairing for tea down the pub. Again. 

I'm not quite sure what happened to Solo's eyes in this photo, very eerie especially as the picture was ironically taken on Halloween night. His evil side evidently coming out at the thought of us going out without him. We are such bad parents.