Thrift Inspiration, 80s Style

Oh how I love things 80s!! Some items from that decade certainly border on the chavtastic side, but to be honest, I won't be rocking rara skirts or a shellsuit anytime soon!

What caught my eye though is whilst browsing through 'The Cheap Date Guide to Style' which the gorgeous Vix sent to me a few months ago, is how some items do stay as classics through the decades. One of the pictures that I love is of Ramona Rainey wearing her Fila track top, looking cool and relaxed. In her words 'What I'm wearing relates to the music, I'm saying , This is what I like. My shorts move it on to the year we're at now. Not actually being 80s hip hop retro, just making a nod, I'm mixing and matching.'

As the style guide says, anything can be a classic of sorts if you're good at giving things iconic meaning. A tracksuit jacket can be reminiscent of hip-hop, East End geezers (see Danny Dyer here in my favourite 80s inspired film, The Business), comedy sketches about Liverpudlians and casuals-calm down, calm down-very chav indeed!!

More inspired by Rainey than 'The Scousers', I was pleased to find this authentic 80s Sergio Tacchini track top, which I think will work perfectly with a pair of modern print summer shorts for a relaxed summer afternoon/evening vibe.

I also found a navy blue one exactly the same and will be taking it to the Vintage Fashion Fair with me in June.

What sort of classic-chav or not, is inspiring you this summer?

Vintage Fashion Fair-Primrose Hill, 8 May

It was a really lovely day at the Vintage Fashion Fair held at Cecil Sharp House in Primrose Hill. While we were waiting to go in, at about 8:35, across the road I saw the model Agyness Deyn walking by-she looked over so I smiled and she smiled back!! A great start to the morning, lol!!

Once indoors and set up, doors opened at 11am and although it was fairly quiet on the visitors front, there were still sales to be had. It was a really lovely, genteel atmosphere too-its so nice to meet new people and its fabulous to see your items for sale going to someone who really is enthralled with their new purchase!!

My stall on Sunday-it was great to have a spacious pitch, I had use of the piano, two tables and my two hanging rails-all ready for business!!

I didn't have to wait long for a V.I.P, a most discerning customer who knew straightaway what item he wanted-I wish all my customers could be like him.

Le Petit Garcon and his gorgeous mum Kate from Make Do Style came to visit as promised and it was lovely to catch up with her again-it was my first time meeting Le Petit Garcon and I did remark how handsome he was!! He was most taken with an 80s brooch and had to have it straight away! The deal was done and paid for, but I had to have a picture of the charming young man showing his purchase:

A very satisfied and handsome young customer-thank you for your purchase and do come again!!

Of course, me and mum had to get in on the picture, and as you can see we are both wearing bright colours-Kate is rocking her red scarf and jeans and I'm in my cobalt blue 90s Versace jeans and stripey top!

A picnic was beckoning for Le Petit Garcon and mum, so we bade farewell and they went on their way. The day soon went very quickly with some last minute sales before closing time.

The next fair is on 5 June, it would be great to see you and you can apply for free tickets here a little nearer the time. Its a lovely trip out and is great for all budgets, whether you want a little treat or a special purchase, then a unique vintage item may just be what you're after to mix in with a high street, designer or modern outfit.

I hope you all are having a great week so far!!

Another Find

As you may already be aware, I love Celia Birtwells prints. I have over the years, had dresses and blouses from the Topshop diffusion line, some of which I've still got and some which I've sold on Ebay.

I found this one from her Autumn 2006 collection for Topshop.

Its an ideal summer dress, with a back keyhole detail and cute fluttery sleeves.

What items do you still buy that you don't really need?

Double Denim, featuring Red Jeans

Now lately, if you see me in a scarf you can bet I've been to the boot sale. For some reason, all the bootys are incredibly dusty and with the days so windy a scarf has been a must accessory for over there.

My outfit is my thrifted H&M red jeans from the boot sale in Brentwood a couple of months ago for only £2. My Levis jacket was also only £2 from the boot sale last month and has been worn quite regularly since. I'm also wearing my Uniqlo Jean Michel Basquiat tee which I bought a couple of years ago.

I quite like double denim, hence my second most recent post featuring it!!

Will you work double denim this season?

Change of Direction for Me!!

I must firstly apologise, as during March I announced I was going to open an Etsy store, which was my full intentions at the time. I also did actually commit to doing my first Vintage Fashion Fair on 17 April and because I didn't know how well it would go for me and because I'd announced the still unopened Etsy store, I stayed quiet!!

However, the event for me was fairly successful-it was the day of the London Marathon and Camden Town tube station was shut in the afternoon. The Fair wasn't as busy as it normally is, but fellow stallholders and the organiser said generally the amount of people through the door was only half of what it generally is.

Hubby helped out and for our first go, we had a really lovely time and I did make a few sales. The end of the day came too quickly and I quickly made sure the organiser signed me up for my place on May 8th-this Sunday!

So apologies to those awaiting my Etsy store, I have decided that doing Vintage Fashion Fairs is where my short term (maybe even long term!) future lays-it is such a lovely day out and there is such a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere and has a very genteel and 'time gone by' feel to it!!

I am at the Vintage Fashion Fair in Primrose Hill, anyone who is interested in visiting, here is the link to their website and you can apply for free tickets too!!