Considering I'd chucked on yesterday's clothes, sponging off the remnants of last night's dinner from my dress on the way out, several people stopped me in and around the chazzas today to admire my outfit. The manager of one of our regular haunts was on the phone when I walked in and waved at me. I overheard her telling the person on the end of the line "That lady's just come in, the one who wears the clothes". How on earth she'd know who I was by that description is anybody's guess, Walsall ain't no nudist colony.
Is it just me or, when you're in a charity shop, are you drawn to things similar to what you're already wearing? Needless to say, I'm always dressed in something vintage and naturally hone in on it, but when I'm wearing a certain colour or style of clothing I seem to find loads more of the same.
Today, with my Guatemalan top, basket from Madeira and Indian chappals, I couldn't stop finding foreign clothes and accessories and by that I don't mean high street fashion made in some grim Asian sweatshop. By the time I'd finished I'd shopped the world without leaving my home town.
Indonesian Batik kaftan - I love Batik even more now I've learnt how to do it.
This scrap of metallic sari fabric was in the "five for a £1 bin" - I made it into a crop top whilst Jon made lunch. That's the 11th top I've made this week. I'm obsessed with my new-old sewing machine (I'll show you soon!)
A tie-dyed rayon maxi skirt, also made in India. If I try it on I'll want to keep it.
1980s Thai silk boxy shirt. The hipsters love Thai silk and it flies off our rails whenever we have any. Who can blame them? The colours are always wonderful.
I'd love to dress Polly Piglet in this baby Flamenco dress but she'd never forgive me. We often get asked for kids dressing-up clothes when we're trading at festivals so I'll add this to the rail.
Aren't these Mallorca souvenir cuff links fab? They look a million times better now I've scrubbed them.
Seriously tempted to keep this 1970s Egyptian pendant.
A leather trimmed kilim bag from Turkey.
Definitely a keeper, a super psychedelic beach bag from the 1970s. The Costa Brava was the first foreign place I ever visited!
I can't resist a souvenir scarf - here's two (featuring Australia & France) of the three I found today. (The other is from Stratford-on-Avon and, as its only down the road, can't really count as being foreign).
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| Wearing: Guatemalan top (Kinky's mates Make Do & Vintage) with added fringe trim I cut off a lampshade; 1969 Van Allan maxi dress (one of a pair bought from the original owner, eBay, 2006); Plastic & wood bangles (car boot sales & charity shops); 1970s Madeira basket (charity shop, 2010); Embroidered Indian chappals (Jumble sale); Vintage purple velvet curtains (part of our festival trading pitch) |
See you on the other side!