Affordable Fashion and the CIRCUS

I AM SO EXCITED. In case that didn't quite come across, let me reiterate. I AM SO EXCITED.

THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN.


I'M GOING TO THE CIRCUS!

The Moscow State Circus is in town, and I went to get my tickets yesterday. If I wasn't excited enough by the sheer prospect of it, the trip there certainly made sure to correct that. They've erected a huge circus tent in the forest surrounding Alexandra Palace, and the location is absolutely magical.

I don't know what it is about the circus, but I've always been absolutely fascinated by it. The aesthetic of it, the atmosphere, the music... I don't know, nothing else really ever compares. Even world-class acts like Cirque du Soleil seem a little pale to me next to the fun fair-esque entertainment of the People that the circus endeavours to be. Believe it or not, I am actually jumping up and down in excitement as I type.

I couldn't possibly go check out the circus without dressing up for it, so here's the outfit I put together for the occasion:

And then again, this is nothing compared to what I will wear on the day of the performance...

Top - Primark

Bra with criss-cross straps - H&M

Skirt - numph

Shoes - Baker

Jacket - Collectif

Jewellery - Hutan Tulang

A little silk blouse...

This morning I found a forgotten gem at the back of my closet, a little silk blouse inherited from my great-aunt. I have no idea what period it's from - possibly 40s? any ideas, do leave a comment! - but I have been watching much too much Mr Selfridge lately and thought I would incorporate it into a Belle Epoque-inspired outfit.

Blouse - Vintage

Skirt - H&M

Shoes - Primark

A Very Vintage Valentine's

I know, I know, this dates a little, but I came by the photos while going through my phone and wanted to share them with you. Also, confession number 2: it was only mildly vintage. I just thought the title sounded cool.

Coat - Collectif

Velvet Dress - Collectif

Jewellery - Topshop

I tried to take a close-up of my hair but couldn't get the light right, so all I'm left with is this rather embarrassing selfie to show off my faux-rolls. Oh well.

Despite the fancy schmancy outfits, we had quite the trashy bohemian night, with a Sing-Along screening of Moulin Rouge at the Prince Charles Cinema (THAT is how this movie is supposed to be enjoyed. With singing and mock-crying and shouting at the screen and an audience in show-girl costumes), dinner at Five Guys and witnessing a mysterious break-up scene on our way home. Quite the adventure.

Southbank Vintage Car Boot Sale

Last weekend I was at the Classic Car Boot Sale on the South Bank. I'd gone to the very first one last year (more below!), but this time it got extended to a week-end long event, due to popular demand. Talk about popular! The queue was much longer than last year, but the weather was lovely, so we queued in the sun with a cold refreshing beer (sadly the Southbank Center bar stall wouldn't let us carry a pitcher of Pimm's away...). We were treated to entertainment (in the form of an Everly Brothers-style duo of vintage suit-clad boys playing acoustic renditions of Johnny Be Goode, and impromptu 'dance rehearsal' performances) while we planned and schemed about the most effective way to go around seeing everything.

Any attempt to be logical and responsible in our trawling of the market was promptly abandoned when stall after stall caught our eye and we zoned in on vintage pieces with wonderment. Everywhere we looked, fashion, homeware and classic cars, all at a reasonable price! Most items were mid-century, although I did get my hands on a Regency reproduction coat (which, sadly, didn't fit), and with a little rummaging it was possible to find older pieces.

Dress - 1950s vintage (Peggy Lane, thrifted in Amsterdam)

Cardigan - Vivienne Westwood

Shoes - Primark

Bag - Thrifted (Absolute Vintage)

After a few hours, my friends decided that they 'had lost their rummaging spirit' and simply couldn't take any more of it, so we made a beeline for the food shacks (Ok, so I stopped once. That 50s ball gown just HAD to be tried on. I got stuck in it.) and had the best sautéed  mushrooms on toast ever made.

Somewhere along the way I appear to have decided on a theme for the day's shopping, and ended up with a full 'explorer' outfit - think Indiana Jones, female version. I'll do another post about that vintage haul!


-----------

Last year's Classic Car Boot Sale:

Dress - 1940s vintage (Absolute Vintage)

Hat - bought on site!

So soft!

Sadly, he wouldn't buy it.

Sexy leather trousers

And a few film shots, courtesy of Elisabetta:

 Last year, I walked away with a vintage deerstalker (see pictures), a Victorian black silk apron, and the most beautiful 60s satin gown I have ever seen.

The award for Find of the Day, though, goes to my boyfriend who managed to get his hands on a perfectly tailored, hand-finished original 1930s tailcoat.

Fifties Friday: More bumper bangs, or what really goes down at slumber parties

 

What can I say, I'm obsessed! 

Nightgown - H&M

I did my friend's hair too

 

The stuff that fuels sleepovers... for real

The Vintage Family Album

An amazing photo album resurfaced at a family reunion last weekend...

My grandmother, age 20 (1946). This is seriously amazing, for at least 3 reasons.
1) She hasn't changed a bit.
2) I look a lot like her.
3)HAIR!

My great-aunt in the late 30s and 40s. The bathing suit shot on the right is so cool!

Fur and victory rolls...

1941

1958. Travelling in style!

Amazingly 80s... *cough*hats*cough*... The hottie on the far left is my mother.

So adorably 60s <3 I absolutely adore the short flower dress on the right.

A very 50s wedding...

This I find just incredible. It's my great uncle in his Tunisian army uniform,
presumably - judging by the photo style - in the late 30s.

Winter 1961.

Hilariously 70s... This is like a caricature of all the fashion faux-pas that characterised the era.
I promise I will never let the concerned parties live it down.

A 60s wedding...

...and more 60s partying goodness

French cafe terrace... I would love one of those bags in white. Or pale green.

Sixties Sunday

Well, summer is definitely over in London. I woke up this afternoon with that good old feeling of cold humidity seeping into my bones... If it wasn't for my birthday, I really would hate autumn in this country. It's such a gloomy season! It's that time of the year when the sun sets at 9, but really you need the lights on from 6, when it's too cold and wet to go outside, but the uncomfortable humidity indoors is something no hot chocolate can cure, when you find yourself pining for dry, crisp winter in the never-ending grey of the autumn day. Gloomy, gloomy, gloomy as hell. Somebody PLEASE find me an antique-style riding coat to wait out the season in style. In the meantime, I've decided to cheer myself up with new vintage clothing. Vintage clothing, and a lot of cherry tea.

 

 Shirt - thrifted

Bag - Blitz vintage

Knitted skirt - Primark

Shoes - Truffle

 

This is the most clothes I've worn in months!

 

 








I decided to try my new Scunci hair padding, but simply couldn't keep a straight face today... What do you think?

Yes, I always match my drinks to my clothes...

I'm so happy about my new leather bag!! It's actually a vintage camera case, but it's the perfect size to hold everything I need without being too bulky. I went and raided the Blitz vintage store near Brick Lane the other day (more on this later), and it took all the willpower I had not to buy the whole shop. I did also get  earrings, though! Big plastic tartan hoops, which you can sort of see in the photos. I usually stay well clear of secondhand earrings, but I just couldn't resist. Tartan just has that effect on me! Must be a remnant of my high school punk phase.

Bootcut sleeves?

White rose ring