It's started already....

John's worst fear... that the dream job I am about to start will lead to an increase in second-hand purchases, ensuring our already bulging house is stretched to the max. And last Thursday I gave him fuel for the argument unfortunately.

I had a meeting with my new boss from St Peters Hospice and  I was also lucky enough to meet some of the people I will be working with. We have a few exciting projects coming up over the next few months so we met to discuss them and talk about my induction which officially starts on Monday next week.

Afterwards however, I thought it only wise to check out the local competition as there were several other charity shops in close proximity to ours. I justified it to John as making 'good business sense', knowing damn well he wouldn't fall for it. Anyway, sure enough, I not only scoped the competition fully, I felt like I'd been unfaithful as I made a few sneaky purchases.

Firstly, I did buy a bag from our shop (how could I not). A great fringed piece that is very on-trend and looks as good as new. Originally from H&M, a shop that I love for it's very reasonable prices and strong ethical stance, it was a steal at only £3.99.  I am over the moon with it. I've been lusting after a large fringed tote but I hadn't been lucky enough to find one in a charity shop until that day. It's quite small but ideal for a trip out or an evening down the pub (something we know only too well since we still don't have a kitchen as we are attempting all the work ourselves).

And so to the shoes......

Three pairs in one charity shop haul. Joy for me, woe for hubby. These two were from the PDSA charity shop, just down the road from ours. I always like to support them as I am a huge animal lover. I couldn't imagine my life without animals or pets. My beautiful dog makes every day better just by being there.

They were both £7.99 which was quite expensive as neither pair were new but I was happy to pay the price. The navy ones are my favourite, despite trying not to play favourites with my shoes. Originally from Faith which sadly don't have a shop presence on the British high street any more but they can be found on ASOS and are also still sold in Debenhams. The logo on the sole suggests that they are quite old. I can imagine them once worn the feet of a nervous bridesmaid due to the gorgeous detailing. I however, shall not be keeping them for special occasions. They are far too pretty to be kept for specific outings so I shall wear them any chance I get.

The second pair are from my beloved M&S and funnily (although not surprisingly) enough, I have already got a pair in taupe leather that I bought several years ago so they must be a design staple of theirs. I can't resist a bit of patent though. The 7 year old girl in me just can't pass them by.

Which leads me to my third pair. These were from the Oxfam shop. This shop is only small but I still managed to buy four things. Shoes first:

A gorgeous patent (again) evening pair with an elegant cut-out design. £3.99 in price and worth every penny. These were originally from Office so they would have been a much higher price when sold as new but for that's price and hardly a mark on them, their destiny was pre-determined when I walked in the shop.

I also found a statement vase for when my kitchen when it is eventually finished (cream and cobalt is the colour scheme), a reference book for my collection of 'loo books' so you can educate yourself while sat on the throne and a very pretty Alexon full circle skirt (pictures of them to come soon). Alexon is another distinguished british brand brand that is sadly no more so I feel privileged to have found it. It won't be worn for a while however, as a size 14 back in the day doesn't seem to accommodate a size 14 in my day.

All in all, some amazing purchases for amazing prices. A lovely day was had. I now have the challenge of homing all of them somewhere. Wish me luck......

'Run-a-way' success...

New York, London, Milan, Paris and now............Bristol.  Horfield to be exact. 

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend the St Peters Hospice  inaugural fashion show, showcasing their Autumn/Winter beauties. Hopefully it will be the first of many as the Horfield team and volunteers really showed everyone how it's done.  

They turned their flagship store into a temporary catwalk for the night and delighted the audience with a potted history of fashion though the ages which was a great concept and kept us all guessing. The whole evening was so professional and not knowing what to expect, I was really surprised at the lack of nerves the models (staff, volunteers and friends) displayed. It takes a lot of guts to get up and put yourself  in the limelight. Most people shy away from anything in that arena, I cringe at my own husband taking photos of me for this blog let alone strutting my stuff in front of 100 strong audience.  But they genuinely appeared to be having a great time and really got into the spirit of things, showing off the pieces brilliantly. 

On a selfish note, it was lovely to spend an evening with some great people as l was lucky enough to bring a couple of friends, my sister-in-law and John. Poor long-suffering John. Even he said though that he enjoyed it and couldn't believe that it was their first ever show. 

The night was an amazing success and I (of course), bought several pieces as did my friends. I will write about them soon! I still cannot believe the bargain prices I paid to be honest. I went away grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Unlike the expression on John's face which was one of concern. Concern that yet more pieces are joining my dressing room (which is slowly encroaching on the rest of the house). Every piece was available to buy on the night so of course I was one of the first people to run up the stairs and stake my claim(s). I may have offended some of the models as they were still in a state of undress when I entered with Rhianna and Katie on my heels. 

Trivia alert.........did you know that the first designer fashion shows started in Paris (where else) over a century ago, although there are accounts of some being held many, many years ago in front of royal courts. The next of the big four - New York, started holding theirs after WW2 when they wanted to detract the focus away from Paris. London, surprisingly, is the most recent of the 'Big Four' to hold bi-annual fashion shows. Fashion weeks as we know them today are massively glamorous (and expensive) events where designers get to showcase their proud designs to the world (and some very picky front row celebrities). 

Anyway, I shall finish by letting you scroll through the pics below which will hopefully give you a feel for the evening. I (unfortunately) have definitely got the fashion show bug, St Peters being the number one choice but until their next show (which I hope is very soon), I suppose Chanel will do.  

Lady in red, reminiscent of 1940's glamour

Very risqué.  John perked up at this point!

 

I loved the structure of this cocktail dress, almost like a lampshade style bottom! 

Classic elegance

This lady totally rocked whatever she wore.  She looked incredible.

 Hippy Chic!

 A nice workwear ensemble.  I'm all for adding a splash of vibrant colour to an otherwise dull office outfit.   I am always encouraging our shoppers to go for a bright accent colour.  It is so easy to shop for workwear staples and stick to dull hues like navy, grey etc.  They need something to sharpen them up!

 This model looked so at ease throughout the whole evening.  She was amazing and so lovely to watch.  She really seemed to enjoy every minute and she brought her own style to each outfit. We were in awe of her.

A Jackie O' style shift and incredible matching boots.

The photo does neither justice unfortunately.

This one made me smile.  I am sure it was a Wallis dress. It's one of our classics that we do every year in various colours and is consistently a best seller for us.

I desperately wanted this dress but there is no way I could have done it justice (code for......there was no way it was going to fit).

There were lots of sparkly numbers on display, showcasing some lovely Christmas party options in-stores.

 Another lovely 40's style outfit complete with headpiece

 

I loved the styling of this outfit and again, desperately wanted this cardigan.  Alas, I was beaten to it by another keen forager!

My friend  Rhianna will confirm this, the minute I saw this fake fur jacket, I laid my claim. God forbid anyone get there before me.  Thankfully,  I was lucky enough to get it first and it is hanging proudly in my dressing room.  I cannot wait for a Christmas occasion to be able to show it off. 

 This dress reminded me of an Alexander McQueen dress that Kate Middleton wore to a film screening while in the States.  That dress was dove grey which is difficult colour to pull off but she looked beautiful and this one looked just as good.  One of my favourites of the evening without a doubt.

 The Christmas Jumper finale!  Brilliant way to end a really great show.

This dress may not have been the last one of the night but Valentino always finished his catwalk shows with a red dress and if it's good enough for Valentino.........

So there you have it.  Just a small selection of some of the best outfits. I would have loved to have shown them all really. Lord knows I bought enough of them.  It was an amazing evening though and I am really proud to say that in a couple of weeks I will be a part of this organisation.

I cannot wait to be involved in the next one.

Cover Girl....

Ok, so I may have done this the wrong way around but let me explain......

Last week me, my long suffering husband and my friends Rhianna and Katie went to a fashion show at one of the amazing St Peters charity shops in Bristol.  I have a very long article to write and lots of pictures to post and it's what you might call a work in progress........in between ripping out the last remnants of our kitchen and laminating posters for work. 

So, rather than delay this particular post, I decided to go ahead. There's nothing that states my blog needs to be in chronological order.....or any order for that matter! 

Therefore, may I introduce to you Miss Katie Jones, in all her vintage glory.  Quite possibly one of the most positive and calming people I've ever met.  

Katie paid the very worthy price of £10.99 for this 70's boho dress that she spied at the fashion show. A vision in green paisley, she carries off the modern seventies vibe very well. Funnily enough though the day after we went to the show, John found the same little number on the front cover of a magazine supplement for the local Bristol Evening Post. What are the chances? The article is all about St Peters Hospice shops and it turns out that this dress is quite famous as it's also featured in their Autumn/Winter graphics campaign all over the city.

The nature of the second-hand clothing beast is that you rarely know the original source of donations when you buy them but I would love to know who gave this up and why. Too old? changed shape? not quite their style any more? It could have been many a reason. The romantic in me however hopes that the original owner will either have seen the supplement this week or one of the graphics in a shop window maybe and secretly smiled a big proud smile to themselves. 

Whoever they are, they can rest assured that it will now go on to live a new life with the lovely Miss Jones. I wonder what new adventures they will share.....

Breathing new life.....

How lovely is this? 

I always get excited when other people show me their projects and this is so special. 

My friend Max has done an amazing job of up-cycling these pieces and I wanted to share them. She originally bought the desk from The British Heart Foundation who, along with their charity shops, have a range of furniture shops that hold some amazing pieces just waiting for a touch of love and imagination. This particular writing desk was £20 reduced from £50. 

So this is what you can do with a touch of black project paint, some custom made blue colouring, and a little bit of time. That said, it apparently took around 3 hours to sand down and 3 coats of paint. But by contrast, the handles took 10 minutes to paint but 2 days to dry!!

Totally worth it though, it's gorgeous.

The blue inside is such a lovely touch and even the lampshade was once red! 

Matching up-cycled letter rack....

And to finish off, even a custom-made pen pot from an old Yankee Candle jar. 

I am very jealous. Well done Max! 

Lucky, lucky, lucky....

Where to start?

I guess I should start by telling you some super exciting news...

I'm still not quite sure how this has happened but I have managed to land my dream job. I have written about treasures from St Peters Hospice charity shops many a time throughout my blog and I am extremely proud to say that I am now going to be one of their Area Managers.  I will be responsible for around 15 of their shops in Bristol, starting on November 2nd. 

I can honestly say that I cannot remember a time when I wanted something so much (apart from maybe waiting for john to pop the question!). I am so passionate about the cause as they cared for my friend recently in the last stages of her life and they do such good work for people affected with life limiting illnesses (and their families). I am a regular in their shops so when I saw the job advertised on their website, life as we knew it came to a stop so I could plough everything I had into the application. Days and nights were spent on research and presentations, visiting shops and devising a plan. I am so happy to say that all the work paid off and I cannot wait to start. 

And with all new beginnings, there is usually an ending of sorts that precedes it. That ending will be with Wallis. I have been part of that family for just over five years. In that time I went from a four hour sales advisor to a multi-site manager and I am so grateful for everything I've learnt. I have made some great friends, learnt from many mistakes but achieved so much both personally and professionally. It's been a whirlwind time but it has been an amazing springboard to an exciting new start. 

So, that's my life at the moment. Working like I've never worked before on a big project for Wallis that I want to see through to the end before I go while also trying to think about the massive step up I am about to take. Bloody scary times. 

In amongst all my time researching however, I did manage to come upon a few little gems that I just couldn't turn my back on. So the following pics are a small homage to the amazing St Peters Hospice shops and the beauties that can regularly be found within. 

A vinatge Dorothy Perkins mac - £6.99

A £2 top on the bargain sale rail in the Brentry shop

A classic black dress with deep pockets that I just love. £10 from their Staple Hill shop. I'm going to pair it with red lips, red leather gloves and a headscarf. I'm going to channel my inner Linda Koslowski in that scene at the end of the film - Crocodile Dundee. But just to clarify.....I will not be throwing my shoes away like she did. 

And finally a boxy red old school blazer. The photo doesn't really do it justice. It's very 80's and very structured with big gold buttons. It's a little big then I'm not the smallest girl up top! £4. 

So there you have it. A select few from a vast supply. A supply that is set to grow no doubt. 

Sorry john.......

Step back in time...

What a great day.  My prayers were answered and Lou Lou's Vintage Fair finally came to bristol on a Saturday that I wasn't working (for once!). Somehow I managed to leave my long suffering husband bricking up a wall at home, while I got to travel back to another era for a few precious hours.  

Held at Bristol Temple Meads passenger shed at the side of Brunel's great train station, the travelling national fair laid on a bounty of all things pre-loved and beautiful.  The grand space was filled with layers upon layers of tulle petticoats, brooches, bags and hats and an immense amount of clothing. There were cupcakes and tea served on vintage china for those weary shoppers, a pop up hair salon with ladies ready to tong victory rolls a plenty and even a swing band to entertain you as you rummaged. It really is a lovely event if you are ever able to go. The majority of people really do dress up and go to town with their outfits and it's a lovely way of seeing people's individuality shine through. 

I wish I had made more of an effort to be honest. Although I put some though into what I wore, I wish I had really pushed the boat out and not worried too much about looking silly. I forgot that these fairs are the one place where you really can do that. Red lips and tutu's are de rigeur.  It was also interesting to see a lot of men at the event and not just because they had been coerced with the promise of beer or otherwise, the men I saw were genuinely having a good time. Sifting with true intention along rails of old Levi's and American style shirts. 

Here are a few photos that I took to give you a feel for the event...

The pop up parlour where I had my hair done for £20...

I love the idea of victory rolls and I am always keen to have it done but for some reason, I don't think they really suit me. That said, flicking through the vintage hairstyle books while I was being 'coiffed' has inspired me to try a few other styles. Watch this space....

And of course, I didn't come away empty handed (unfortunately for my purse and for my wrists that had to take the weight of the bags later on), but I am so so happy with what I found. 

A gorgeous chiffon, deep red skirt that oozes swish-ability (a prerequisite for all skirts of mine). It was marked at £18 but the stall holder let me have it for £10. No marks or stains, holes or deformities. 

All I need now is a white silk blouse, neck scarf and oversized glasses. Oh and Cary Grant and a backdrop of the French Riviera. 

This is just sublime and I don't use that word very often. A true 'Margo' dress. The style that harks back to tv programme 'The Good Life' with Penelope Keith in her gorgeous maxi day dresses. It's a very thick polyester fabric but not in a horrible cheap way and a few of the tiny diamantés  are missing but I will carefully paint the holes where they sat with silver nail vanish to fill the gaps. I cannot wait to wear it. I am not usually a fan of 70's fashions but for some reason I love this style of dress. A nipped-in waist, v-neck and floaty sleeves, it is super feminine and a steal at £20 from £35. If you can take the risk of waiting towards the end of the day, a lot of items get reduced and rails suddenly display £10 or bargain rail signs. But if you love something that much, don't put it back, snap it up or someone else will. And with one-off pieces (as is the nature of vintage), you know you won't find another one. 

And finally, this coat. Possibly one of my favourite ever finds. It was £50 but it looks like new despite its age. It's a wool-cashmere blend and is so soft.  A lady that walked by as I was trying it on said "if you don't buy that coat, I will buy it for you!". Very kind, although I happily paid for it myself.  I think the stall holder new a guaranteed sale was coming his way from the enormous smile on my face.  I do tend to be quite expressive and give away any hope of bartering. 

I feel like Anna Karenina the minute it sits on my shoulders. Beautiful. And with the cold days approaching, a new coat edit is probably in order soon. Not that this will be an everyday coat. Strictly for masquerade balls and long romantic train journeys through snowy wastelands. 

A girl can dream.