Spring is here

Spring's here, sun's out and so are the lovely tie-necks.

Posh Frock Friday... err, Saturday

Life's hard enough without having to actually post a posh frock on a Friday. Well, actually I was still sewing it until 12.22 if the truth be known.

With a 95% vintage wardrobe, it's not often that I customise clothing, save for a change of buttons from my huge collection. I do spend an awful lot of time repairing things – goes with the territory – but this one really was beyond all hope.

A once-lovely vintage 1950s sapphire-blue satin halterneck dress which had been well and truly trashed, I was able to salvage the large sequin-embroidered pockets and drum up a bit of luxe sportswear (quite frankly, the closest I am ever going to get to trackkie bottoms) by adding them to this grey trapeze-shaped sweatshirt dress from Cos.

My latest flame

I've always been a terrible one for fads. Since last summer I have been very much taken with tie neck blouses and dresses.

Here are three vintage examples from the early 1960s. They tick all the boxes for me: tie neck, abstract print, murky colours, button-through. The middle one came first and I wore it backwards for a while: it wasn't until I noticed the darts that I realised the tie and buttons (on this one) should be at the back.

I do like those "pussy blow" blouses that have had a revival over the past couple of years, but nowhere near as much as I love these.

La Pantera Rosa

Some acid-tounged wag told me today I looked as if I should be in a film with Peter Sellers.

I can see what he meant though.

This butterfly print silk dress is from the early 1960s, sartorially my favourite era, and was probably from Hong Kong.

Something for the weekend

A visual metaphor for my weekend.

Having packed everyone else off, I spent the time on some serious DIY, popping out only to buy a pair of vintage ballroom dancing shoes. As you do.

I think they go rather well with my paint-encrusted boilersuit, mais non?

Posh Frock Friday

I joined Posh Frock Friday at http://scathingly-brilliant.blogspot.com last week and just realised the link doesn't take anyone to the post. Apologies to those who have already seen these before, but as red hot faves, here they are again.

A grand day out

Living in Brighton, on the south coast of the UK, our first thought for a day out is more often than not another seaside town. A real favourite is Bexhill, east of Brighton on the way to Hastings.

It's a small town with great charity shops, old fashioned cafés and the splendid modernist De La Warr Pavilion on the seafront.

I found a great vintage shop today, Maud's, at 22 St Leonards Road. I asked if they had a card and they said "we aren't on the phone". No website, Facebook page or Twitter feeds then I'd guess!

A teenage boy asked me, "what country are you from?" when he overheard me saying "your dad's just over the road" in my geordie accent. Ah, so near and yet so far away...