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...

On the mend

Still not quite well but on the mend now.

Vintage 1960s dress from Frock Me! and faux snake shoes from Hebden Bridge, that bohemian enclave of South Yorkshire; home-made button bracelet, specs from eBay and a stern look.

Under the weather

I'm feeling really unwell today and – perhaps connected, who knows? – not one piece of clothing I'm wearing is vintage (my Irregular Choice shoes came from eBay, but they were new so even they don't count).

Still, at least I'm not on the couch in Slanket, and don't even consider the thought that there may be a pair of sweatants lurking in my house!

Hopefully, normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

Fictional Fashion Friday

I had already left the charity shop (empty-handed) when I spied "Smart Girl" in the window, turned right around and went back in for it.

It's nicely designed with lots of illustrations and tons of early 1960s fashion (my favourite) but it is so conservative – advising 15 and 16 year old girls on smart suits, girdles and even floristry!

It really brought it home to me that Mod fashion and the "youthquake" had yet to hit suburban Britain, bringing with it the idea that there were fashions, ideas and music just for the teenagers and not adults. No wonder young people rebelled against being made into carbon copies of not only their parents but their grandparents.