It looks like rain in cherry blossom lane

The powers that be have been playing yo-yo with the weather again. After a humid Saturday, it started raining overnight and it was still drizzling when we left for Sunday's destination: a vintage fair we had been very much looking forward to.

The event developed from a Belgium-based Facebook group called The Vintage Market, initiated to enable members to buy and sell all sorts of vintage stuff and to generally “talk vintage”. In a short space of time, the group had over 30000 members, which called for a celebration in the form of a real live market, aptly called The Vintage Market Live!

Sunday’s market was already the 2^nd edition, the first one being held last September.

The location for this market is a well-known music centre in Antwerp, including a small venue for gigs, with a capacity of 1100 people, called Trix. 

We went soon after the event opened, at about 10.30, when it was still rather quiet.

Here’s a view of the centre, which is situated along a very busy ring road. If you look closely, you can see two soldiers guarding the entrance, which, exactly 2 months after the attacks in Brussels, is still being done at all major events.

There are stalls everywhere, including in the concert hall itself, the foyer and the garden, where food and drink trucks were plying their trade.

Within minutes of walking into the venue, I found a lovely round tartan case, which then of course I had to carry around the whole time we were there. You can see it in this photo, where I am posing with Lies and her mother Rie in front of their lovely stall.

It is from that stall that I made my next purchases:

A colourful micromosaic brooch ...

...  and a lovely emerald green new wool suit from Delmod.

There were also some classic cars on show. We were both smitten by the cute burgundy 1950s Renault and of course I couldn't leave out "Jade Princess", could I?

After a much-needed cup of coffee, we went exploring the stalls in the main concert hall. It was not easy to take photographs there as the hall – being used mainly for gigs – is pitch black with very poor lighting. Despite the colourful merchandise being displayed, this made for quite a gloomy atmosphere.

At the stall of our friends from Blender Vintage Shop, I found another nice little handbag for my fast growing collection. This one will be nice to use in summer.

Here you can see it together with a better view of the tartan case.

My last purchase was from a stall which reminded me a little of Vix’s Kinky Melon pitch.

The yellow jacket with gorgeous polka-dotted lining caught my eye and as luck would have it it was my size as well. I’m guessing that originally it had a matching skirt.

After a final coffee and some people-watching, we walked back to our car in the pouring rain.

Oh, and I’ve still got to show you my outfit for the day, which you have already caught a glimpse of.

This dress is a favourite of mine, with its diamond pattern in navy and green, its square white buttons and wide collar. It is not easy to put on as its sleeves are very narrow. Once on, though, it is perfect without any pinching anywhere.

Because of the wet weather, I resorted to boots again and wore my short black ones with a back zipper.

After this fun-packed day (and indeed weekend), I actually needed another one for resting.

As it was, duty called on Monday for yet another working week.