It's the end of the world as we know it

Well, of my world anyway. So to speak. Within the space of one week I found out that two of my favourite vintage shops are closing down, which I must admit was quite a shock to the system.

First up was Vintage Styling. This vintage clothing shop in the centre of Antwerp was a breath of fresh air. Until its launch in 2014, I was used to rummaging through rails of clothing in charity shops and lesser-quality vintage shops, eventually unearthing that one 1960s or 1970s gem.

Not so at Vintage Styling, where everything was beautifully laid out and where clothing was clean and did not require immediate repairs. The shop was more expensive than what I was used to pay, though, but not so that I wasn’t able to treat myself now and then.

Unfortunate though it is that the shop is expected to close end of June, until then they are holding a big sale in a bid to get rid of as many of their stock as possible. Dresses were down to € 10 and € 15 the last time I visited, which was last Thursday.

This is what I got:

A summery Diolen two-piece, the jacket of which has a little peplum.

and a dark green flowery dress, also made from Diolen.

A few days after Vintage Styling’s news, I read on Facebook that Blender Vintage Shop, which I blogged about in March (here), will be closing down at the end of the year as well.

As we have found many wonderful things at this shop, which we have been visiting once a month since the autumn of 2013, it will sorely be missed.

On Saturday, we decided to give the charity shops a miss, and pay our monthly visit to Blender Vintage Shop one day early.

This is what I wore: a handmade dress (not by me, of course) in a rather coarsely woven white polyester fabric, featuring huge orange and purple flowers.

The collar and hem are in a different, solid purple, fabric. I wore an orange cardigan with a white felt flower pinned to it, a purple necklace and dusky purple tights. Even the vintage slip I wore underneath was in a coordinating colour!

Blender Vintage Shop had a clothing sale on: if you bought three pieces, you got a fourth one for free.

I bought a short-sleeved blouse/jacket (paired here with a 1970s Trevira skirt), a patterned skirt in pink, lilac and blue and a yellow short-sleeved jumper, all shown here by Angelica, who has really been earning her keep this week.

They also had a rail of maxis, and now that I’m a convert, I couldn’t resist trying on some, deciding on this beauty for € 5.

I thought I wouldn't have any other finds to show you this time, but it turns out I was wrong. Actually, they are not finds, but gifts! As my friend Inez's mother Lydia recently had to move into a care home, she is in the process of sorting out her mother's flat and we were given some nice things, which we are only too happy to re-home.

A wool and cashmere black winter coat, which hopefully I won't be needing any time soon, and a summer "peignoir" in a gorgeous peachy pink colour.

We also came home with a little clock, a coffee filter holder (made by Emsa), a beautiful old tin and a gorgeous bedspread.

This wicker sewing basket needs a little bit of TLC on the outside but look at that fabulous lining! It is joined here by another little basket which will come in useful.

Finally, these lovely cushions, made by Lydia herself, which have found a good home on our sofa. Look at those amazing colours! Phoebe still has to get used to them, though. She's still giving the sofa angry looks and a very wide berth ...

Aren't cats funny creatures?